Forest dominate but Mac Allister delivers late drama
Nottingham Forest controlled large parts of the match against Liverpool at the City Ground and fully deserved at least a point. Home fans taunted Arne Slot with chants throughout while Vitor Pereira’s side pressed high and created chances against the defending champions.
Slot had never beaten Forest in his previous three attempts as Liverpool boss. The game looked set for a draw until the closing moments turned into chaos. Alexis Mac Allister scored a 97th-minute winner to give Liverpool a vital victory that levels them on points with Chelsea and Manchester United in the battle for fourth place.
Jamie Carragher called it one of the biggest robberies of the Premier League season on Sky Sports. Pereira summed up the frustration by saying he was angry with football. Forest did not deserve to lose after such dominance.
Slot accepted his team got more than they deserved. He described emotions of happiness and relief noting this was the first time he had to give a different post-match press conference. Liverpool did not play well and a draw would have been fair. Slot said his side had been on the wrong side of luck too many times this season and finally got the rub of the green.
Mac Allister’s impact and Ngumoha’s substitute spark
Mac Allister found himself in the right place twice late on. First a goal was disallowed after it hit his elbow tight to his body following a clearance from Ola Aina. Mac Allister told BBC Sport he understood the rule but believed the goal should have stood if football sense was applied.
In the second half Liverpool improved slightly in intensity and pressing though it was far from their best standard. The winner came in what Slot called extra time of extra time. Mac Allister’s strike proved decisive and underlined his importance in tight moments.
Substitute Rio Ngumoha made a significant impact off the bench. The 17-year-old delivered the cross that led to the disallowed goal and showed energy throughout his cameo. BBC pundit Pat Nevin said Ngumoha had a bigger impact than Mohamed Salah while Carragher noted he changed the game.
Slot praised Ngumoha’s incredible potential saying no other 17-year-old has played as many Premier League minutes this season especially at Liverpool. He highlighted the youngster’s progress strength and mentality comparing him to Mac Allister as an example of what is needed for a long career at the top level.
Resilience keeps Liverpool’s season alive
Mohamed Salah had an off day and has now gone nine Premier League games without a goal despite improved workrate since returning from AFCON. Liverpool were dull for long periods but showed champion resilience to grind out the result.
The win boosts their top-four hopes and keeps Champions League qualification firmly in sight. Slot knows improvement is needed but acknowledged the value of getting lucky once in a while. The journey back to Merseyside will feel sweet after such a dramatic ending and there is still plenty of life left in Liverpool’s campaign.
