4 hours ago
14
Key events
Neco Williams also addresses the rumours linking him with Tottenham Hotspur. “Every day I am focused on the badge I am wearing right now … of course it is nice to see there’s interest … but at the end of the day I am a Nottingham Forest player … I am fully focused on what I have to do … full commitment … giving my best to help this team.”
Forest’s Neco Williams, once of Liverpool, speaks to TNT Sports … “I think there’s mixed emotions … a little bit disappointed … we could have and should have won the game … but everyone knows how it is to come to this place … we take the point and move on … we build on this … it’s still very early on … it’s only two months we’ve been together … we’re still learning the roles … our togetherness will never go away … [our ambitions'] have to be European positions and a cup … it’s something we definitely want to do this season … everyone’s seen what Glasner can do winning trophies … we have to stay humble … not get ahead of ourselves … but we’ve got to aim big.”
… as does the player of the match James McAtee. “[Oliver Glasner] has been saying to the lads it might take a few weeks, a few months … but we’re all trying our best to do what he’s telling us to do … once we get going and get used to the formation we can do something special …
Post-match postbag. “Regarding Dechlan’s comments (76th minute) I think that’s incredibly unfair on Slot. He turned Gravenberch into arguably the best number six in the country in the title-winning season, and he was voted young player of the year. As for alienating Trent and Robbo, he managed them to a league title! Weird way to alienate players. I think everybody knows Trent wanted to go, and if you still think Robbo was the Robbo of old, you clearly didn’t watch much Liverpool last season!” – Simon in Belfast
“Liverpool are slowing getting the fighting spirit back, which was drained out of them last season. This season will be chaotic, but entertaining for sure. All in for Iraola!” – Rupak Pramanik
“Shocked to see the gaps in this team after a ginormous spend. Seems concerning to go in Kerkez and Frimpong at LB and RB. To think we still need a CDM, LB and RB for a decent team after all the spend is surprising” – Madan Raja
“Apologies, I was very wrong earlier in the pre-match postbag; they need at least ten” – Dave Estherby
“Never mind your Flamenco football, watching Liverpool so far this season is more like suffering through a Morris-dancing festival” – Justin Kavanagh
Now then, what’s that done to the Premier League table? Not much. Liverpool remain in 10th spot, while Forest rise to 12th. For now. Give it a couple of hours.
Alexander Isak, who scored his fourth Premier League goal for Liverpool in his tenth start for the club, speaks to TNT Sports. “There is no problem in the fighting spirit … we showed that last week as well … we started the game really bad today as well … when we gained momentum, that’s where we need to be … we conceded quite quickly after that … it’s always good to get something out of a game … there’s always time to get used to a new playing style … we are really working hard to play the game he wants us to play … when we start doing that better, I have no doubt the results will come … I am obviously happy to score … every striker wants to score every game he plays … obviously that’s difficult but each game at a time … our fans were amazing … really happy to be back here at home and can’t wait to be back here again.”
Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner shake hands, but neither man looks particularly happy. Liverpool again didn’t play well … but on the other hand, Alexander Isak scored a rare goal while Victor Munoz announced himself with an absolute belter, and for the second week in a row, a draw was salvaged. Forest meanwhile earned the big ovation they’re getting from their fans with a staunch performance, and Liam Delap turned in an exciting cameo … though having come so close to their first win of the campaign will sting a little. So it’s swings and roundabouts. Fun match, though; the return at the City Ground is scheduled for 17 April, so scribble that one into your new 2027 diary.
FULL TIME: Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest
A first point of the season for Forest; a second 2-2 draw for Liverpool.
90 min +5: On TNT, Ally McCoist names James McAtee as his player of the match.
90 min +4: Ngumoha loops in from the left. Sels claims and flops to the floor. That might be it.
90 min +3: Munoz and Szoboszlai take turns to cross from the right. Forest deal with both balls.
90 min +2: A double change for Forest, as McAtee and Jesus are replaced by Hudson-Odoi and Dominguez.
90 min +1: Jesus fouls Szoboszlai 35 yards out on the right. The Liverpool vice-captain gets up and takes it himself. In it goes. Also going: the whistle, for some overly excitable work from Isak and Gravenberch.
90 min: There will be five additional minutes.
88 min: Liverpool have had 72 percent possession in the last ten minutes. It’s noisy at Anfield … but also tense. It’s been a really entertaining match.
86 min: Szoboszlai catches the free kick well, but it flies inches wide of the right-hand post. Sels may well have had it covered.
85 min: Gravenberch turns into space and is dragged down by Milenkovic. A free kick just to the left of the Forest D, and Szoboszlai’s eyes light up.
83 min: Forest try to respond immediately, Delap steaming down the inside-left and shooting from the edge of the box. Araujo slides in to deflect wide left, and nothing comes of the resulting corner.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest (Munoz 82)
So much for comfortable! Wirtz finds a little pocket of space, 30 yards out, and slips a pass down the inside right for Munoz, who takes one touch to spin through 180 degrees and whistle a rising drive across Sels, off the underside of the bar, and into the top left! What a blooter! Can the MBM claim an assist?
81 min: Liverpool press Forest back. No way through. Forest appear happy to sit and soak things up. They look comfortable.
79 min: Munoz comes dancing in from the right and should shoot … but doesn’t. Jesus counters down the left and is cynically brought down by Araujo, who hasn’t taken long to find his way into the book.
78 min: Szoboszlai curls a looping cross in from the right. It drops to Isak, who tries to shift his feet when a first-time shot with his right was the only option. The ball sails harmlessly away from danger.
77 min: Liverpool make two more changes, replacing Jacquet and Mac Allister with Araujo and Nyoni.
76 min: Munoz bursts into space down the left and goes over in the vague environs of Aina, who is on a booking. The referee doesn’t give a free kick … but doesn’t give Munoz a second booking for diving either. All a bit odd. “Arne Slot’s legacy will be his abject failure to integrate any defenders/defensive midfielders while simultaneously alienating players like Robertson, TAA etc.,” opines Dechlan Brennan. “The result is what Liverpool offer in defence now.”
74 min: Tsimikas has a dig from distance, and slams his shot straight into the ground. No need for Liverpool to get quite so desperate yet.
73 min: Ngumoah is 18 years old today. Happy birthday?
71 min: A stunned Liverpool make their triple change. Kerkez, Frimpong and Gakpo make way for Gravenberch, Tsimikas and Ngumoah.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Nottingham Forest (Gibbs-White 70 pen)
Gibbs-White, to a cacophony of whistling, smashes the spot kick into the left-hand portion of the net. Alisson was sent the wrong way. Gibbs-White celebrates by sticking his fingers in his ears. Forest are at it again!
69 min: Alisson is booked for the challenge. He’s not happy, presumably with the delay of the Liverpool subs, because he surely can’t have any argument over the challenge, which wiped out Williams.
Penalty for Forest
68 min: Iraola is fuming, because the fourth official hasn’t got his act together with the sub boards, and the game restarts. Delap takes a quick thrown down the left for Williams, who tries to chip Alisson. The ball sails wide right, but he’s clattered by Alisson and the referee points to the spot!
67 min: Gakpo again crosses long … too long. And it looks like Liverpool are finally going to make that triple change.
