Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool
by Gene Sylvester
at the City Ground

DARWIN NUNEZ was the hero of the hour as he came off the bench to seal all three points for Liverpool in dramatic style to guarantee his side top spot for another weekend, breaking Forest hearts in the process as they believed they had just done enough to earn themselves a point.

But the returning striker nodded in the winner in the last minute of injury time after coming off the bench to earn Liverpool a 1-0 win in dramatic fashion at the City ground.

“It was a super decisive and important goal,” beamed Jurgen Klopp after the final whistle, also admitting that the feeling on a last-minute winner never loses its magic.

It looked like it was going to be one of those days for Klopp’s men as Forest proved to be more than a match for them, despite the points chasm between them — the points difference at kick-off being 36, but the home side looked the more dangerous side in the opening exchanges.

Early Forest chances fell to former Liverpool favourite Divock Origi and ex-Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga, with the latter failing to capitalise on a one on one opportunity with Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, whose outstretched boot deflected the forward’s effort away from goal when he should have put the home side one up.

Nuno Espirito Santo was quick to highlight his team’s missed opportunities in the game, something that he felt is becoming a regular occurrence.

“It happened again, not taking chances and being punished. We should have been more clinical.”

His team were certainly punished for their wasteful finishing when 60th minute substitute Nunez, returning to the matchday squad after missing the last three games through injury, stole the show with his late winner in the 99th minute.

Another returnee coming off the bench, Dominik Szoboszlai, lofted in a late corner which was semi-cleared by the Forest defence as far as another substitute, Kostas Tsimikas, whose shot from the edge off the area was blocked.

Taiwo Awoniyi, himself a 65th-minute substitute for the home side, seemed to have plenty of time to run the ball clear, but was dispossessed on the edge of his own box with the ball eventually ending up at the feet of the impressive Alexis Mac Allister.

The Argentinian made space for himself on the edge of the Forest penalty area before chipping a left footed cross back into the danger zone where Nunez rose highest to nod down into the bottom corner of the net past Forest keeper Matz Sels and right in front of the jubilant away fans.

The Forest bench were incensed as they believed they should have received the ball back following a head injury in the Liverpool box moments earlier. 

Referee Paul Tierney was given some stern words from some of Nuno Espirito’s backroom staff.

“I will not comment on the referee,” responded the Forest manager when quizzed about the referee’s performance.

Klopp on the other hand felt that his side were not given the ball back following a similar incident in the first half.

“It happened the same way in the first half, the other way around, so I expected it to be exactly the same.”

The game was Liverpool’s fourth game in 11 days and the Reds boss admitted being surprised as to how well his team had navigated their tough schedule.

“The fourth game in 11 days is difficult with our squad situation. If you asked me if it was possible to win all four games 12 days ago, I would have said no.”