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Liverpool dropped points for the second consecutive Premier League match 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest Tuesday evening.
Chris Wood scored his 13th Premier League goal of the season as the Midlands side opened the scoring early. Liverpool Struggling to unlock the determination Forest Defense in the first half of few chances.
But Diogo Jota came off the bench to earn a hard-fought point for Liverpool and scored with a header just 22 seconds after entering the field, with Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels flashing a dying limbo with a string of crucial saves.
How the game unfolded
Nottingham Forest There is only one side to win Liverpool This season in the Premier League and a tumultuous City Ground gave the hosts a boost from the first whistle as they raced out to an early lead.
Despite ceding territory in the early stages, Forest proved that possession was unfair as they preyed on a Mohamed Salah error and mounted a swift counter-attack in the eighth minute. Anthony Elanga unlocked the Liverpool defense with a simple through ball and the relentless Wood produced a clinical drilled finish to stun the league leaders.
Forest’s opener allowed them to drop deeper into their own third, their well-organized backline and midfield stifling the division’s top scorers. Liverpool pressed and probed but were unable to create any clear-cut chances in the first half-four, with the Reds pushing most of their efforts onto the crossbar.
Liverpool grew increasingly frustrated as the first half drew to a close and speculative crosses into the penalty area were repeatedly denied by Murillo and Nikola Milankovic. Forest’s centre-back pairing was impressive as Salah and co.
Forest continued to frustrate their hosts after the restart but a masterful Arne Slott substitution in the 65th minute changed the game as Liverpool drew level. Kostas Tsimikas and Jota joined the action and connected with their first touch of the match as the Greek defender’s corner was headed home from close range by his Portuguese team-mate.
Jota’s arrival proved transformative as the Reds finally found some joy in Forest’s final third and the diminutive forward scored his side’s second shot on target of the game soon after his equaliser. Twisting and turning in the box, he brought a stray near-post save from Sells.
Sales proved his identity time and time again in the closing stages as Liverpool began to carve out the Forest goal with particularly impressive defending to deny Jota, Salah and Cody Gakpo. The home goalkeeper refused to be beaten, leaving the Reds to curse an inspired performance between the sticks.
In the end, Forest had their goalkeeper to thank for a hard-fought draw, which saw Liverpool stumble in their Premier League title fight. The Reds will have one eye on the North London derby on Wednesday, with Arsenal able to close the gap to just four points with victory.
After being held to a 2-2 draw with Manchester United in their first Premier League match of the new year, Liverpool had to settle for points at the City Ground once more.
It proved to be another disappointing night for the Reds, who were off the pace for the final half hour. They endured long spells of pointless possession, struggling to cut through the stubborn and watertight defenses of the open jungle. In the final third, they looked out of sorts for most of the encounter.
While things have improved drastically following some clever substitutions from the slot, this is yet another wasted opportunity for Liverpool, who have closed the door on a chase.
Liverpool looked worryingly flat until the 65th minute but the introduction of Jota led to a quick improvement. The forward scored with his first touch – another header to add to a surprisingly high number of aerial strikes for a diminutive man – making a vital impact just 22 seconds after entering the pitch.
By the end of the game, Jota could well have scored a hat-trick. Two exceptional saves from Sales denied the former Wolves man, who offered Forest’s backline a unique test with his clever movement and direct approach.
Luis Diaz once again led the line at the City Ground but cut a disappointing figure for much of the evening. Meanwhile, Jota was Liverpool’s savior and has earned the right to start the next outing.
Much has been made of Forest’s remarkable defensive record this season and they have flexed their muscles against the league’s top scorers. Their well-oiled and tough back four was guarded by the incredible Ryan Yates and Elliott Anderson, both of whom battled like terriers in the engine room.
Neko Williams produced a neat performance against his former club, while Nikola Milenkovic and Ola Ayna were the same. The latter also made a late clearance off the line which ultimately proved decisive.
But Murillo and Sales were the stars of the show. The former provided a defiant performance that reflected his growing status as one of the league’s elite young talents, while Sales produced a flurry of exceptional late saves that earned Forest their point.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s organizational skills frustrated one of Europe’s elite forward lines, and yet it came as little surprise.
