Liverpool lost points for the second Premier League game in a row Draw 1-1 against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening.
Chris Wood scored his 13th Premier League goal of the season as the Midlands side took an early lead as Liverpool struggled to break through a resolute Forest defense with few chances in the first half.
But Diogo Jota rose from the bench and secured Liverpool a hard-fought point. He scored a header just 22 seconds into the game, while Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels shone in the dying embers with a series of crucial saves.
How the game developed
Nottingham Forest are the only team to beat Liverpool in the Premier League this season and a raucous City Ground spurred the hosts on from the first whistle as they took an early lead.
Despite giving up territory in the early stages, Forest proved that possession doesn’t matter as they took advantage of a mistake by Mohamed Salah and launched a quick counter-attack in the eighth minute. Anthony Elanga opened up Liverpool’s defense with a simple through ball and the relentless Wood gave the league leaders a stunning lead with a clinical finish.
Forest’s opener allowed them to penetrate even deeper into their own third, with their well-organized defense and midfield stifling the division’s top scorers. Liverpool pressed and tried but failed to create clear-cut chances in the first half, with the Reds sending the majority of their shots over the bar.
Towards the end of the first half, Liverpool became increasingly frustrated and speculative crosses into the penalty area were repeatedly blocked by Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic. Forest’s central defender pair were confident as Salah and Co. closed a gap.
Forest continued to frustrate their hosts after the restart, but a masterful substitution from Arne Slot in the 65th minute changed the game and Liverpool equalized. Kostas Tsimikas and Jota were thrust into the action and combined their first touches of the game as the Greek defender’s corner was headed home from close range by his Portuguese teammate.
Jota’s arrival proved transformative as the Reds finally found some joy in Forest’s final third, with the diminutive striker scoring his side’s second shot on goal shortly after his equaliser. He twisted and turned in the penalty area and fended off Sels with a long save at the post.
Sels demonstrated his qualities repeatedly in the closing stages as Liverpool began to take hold of the Forest goal, with Jota, Salah and Cody Gakpo making particularly impressive saves. The home goalkeeper simply couldn’t be beaten and the Reds cursed an outstanding performance between the posts.
In the end, Forest had their goalkeeper to thank for a hard-fought draw, while Liverpool stumbled in the Premier League title race. The Reds have their eyes set on Wednesday’s north London derby, with a win allowing Arsenal to reduce the gap to just four points.
After the 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the first Premier League game of the new year, Liverpool again had to settle for a point at the City Ground.
It was another frustrating evening for the Reds, who weren’t on the right track until the final half hour. They endured long periods of meaningless possession and struggled to break down Forest’s stubborn and watertight defense. They looked outspoken for most of the encounter in the final third.
While things improved dramatically after some clever substitutions from Slot, this is another missed opportunity for Liverpool who have left the door open for their pursuers.
Liverpool appeared to be woefully sluggish until the 65th minute, but Jota’s substitution made quick improvements. The striker scored with his first touch – another header, added to a surprising number of aerial shots for a diminutive figure – and scored the decisive goal just 22 seconds after entering the pitch.
At the end of the game, Jota could well have scored a hat-trick. Two phenomenal saves from Sels were thwarted by the former Wolves man, who posed a unique challenge to Forest’s defensive line with his deft movement and direct approach.
Luis Diaz once again led the line at the City Ground but cut a frustrated figure for most of the evening. Meanwhile, Jota was Liverpool’s savior and earned the right to be up front in the next game.
This season, much emphasis has been placed on Forest’s remarkable defensive record and they have flexed their muscles against the league’s top scorers. Their well-oiled and stiff back four was guarded by the tireless Ryan Yates and Elliot Anderson, both of whom fought like terriers in the engine room.
Neco Williams put in a strong performance against his former club, while Nikola Milenkovic and Ola Aina were similarly stoic. The latter even made a late free throw on the line, which ultimately proved to be decisive.
But Murillo and Sels were the stars of the show. The former put in a defiant performance that reflected his growing status as one of the league’s elite young talents, while Sels produced a series of exceptional saves late on to earn Forest the point.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s organizational skills undid one of Europe’s best strikers, and yet it was no surprise.