Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool: Mac Allister rescues Reds in stoppage time | OneFootball

A 97th-minute goal from Alexis Mac Allister moments after seeing a goal ruled out for handball meant Liverpool snatched a 1-0 against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

With the Reds chasing the top-four spot and Forest trying to stay ahead of the relegation zone, this was a critical match for both teams, and saw the former go level on points with Manchester United in fifth.

Vitor Pereira was unable to guide his team to an unlikely victory in his first Premier League match in charge, with his team now just two points clear of West Ham in 18th and at risk of slipping into the bottom three.

As It Happened

Liverpool arrived chasing a top-four position, level on points with Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.

Forest, meanwhile, began the afternoon in 17th, desperate to create breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone. The tension around the ground reflected those contrasting ambitions.

Liverpool’s preparations were disrupted before kick-off when Florian Wirtz withdrew in the warm-up, forcing a late reshuffle in midfield.

Curtis Jones stepped into an advanced role, but the structural balance never fully settled. Slot was already without Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak, and the absence of key attacking profiles dulled the visitors’ edge.

Forest, under newly appointed head coach Vítor Pereira, showed no inferiority complex, and adopted an aggressive approach despite the continued absence of goalkeeper Matz Sels through a groin injury.

The Reds managed territorial control without genuine authority, although Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo were frequently isolated, with Salah missing a couple of golden opportunities.

While Jones struggled to replicate Wirtz’s connective intelligence between midfield and attack. Too often, forward passes were delayed or misplaced, allowing Forest to reset defensively.

In contrast, the hosts, Nottingham Forest, carried a threat in transition. Direct balls into the channels targeted the space behind Liverpool’s advancing full-backs, and their pressing triggers unsettled the visitors’ rhythm. Forest were sharper in duels and quicker to second balls, feeding off the home crowd’s energy.

The clearest first-half warning came from a set piece, as Murillo’s towering header drifted narrowly wide, underlining Forest’s aerial danger.

Liverpool entered the break having controlled territory but created little of note, a sterile dominance that lacked cutting edge.

The tempo increased after the interval. Liverpool pushed their full-backs higher and committed more bodies between the lines, attempting to stretch Forest’s block vertically. Curtis Jones tested the goalkeeper from distance, but clear chances remained scarce.

Forest continued to look the more purposeful side when breaking. Their counters were swift and direct, forcing hurried recoveries from Virgil van Dijk and company.

Pereira’s men appeared comfortable absorbing pressure, waiting for moments to exploit the spaces left behind.

As fatigue crept in, the contest grew increasingly stretched. Substitutions injected urgency into Liverpool’s approach, and the game shifted from tactical arm-wrestle to transitional chaos. The crowd sensed vulnerability at both ends.

Deep into stoppage time, Liverpool forced a scramble inside the Forest penalty area. A 97th-minute goal that saved Liverpool from losing 3 points.

Mac Allister reacted instinctively, stabbing the ball home from close range. The away end erupted. After a brief pause for checks, the goal stood.

What had been a frustrating and disjointed afternoon for Arne Slot’s side turned on a single chaotic moment in the 97th minute, when the Argentine reacted quickest inside the box to bundle home and snatch three invaluable points.

For Liverpool, the result carries significant weight in the top-four race. Three points lift them level with their immediate rivals and maintain momentum at a crucial stage of the season.

Yet the performance leaves questions. For long periods, Slot’s side looked reactive rather than authoritative, a team surviving moments instead of dictating them.

Forest, despite defeat, can take encouragement. Sitting 17th, they matched Liverpool physically and tactically for 96 minutes.

Under Pereira, there are visible signs of structure and resilience. On another day, their discipline might have been rewarded.

Ultimately, this was a game decided by margins. Liverpool won the game when they needed it most, but they did not fully find control.