Final Thoughts: Rio Ngumoha was the difference as Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest 0 – 1 Liverpool – Premier League Postmortem

After a bruising return to Premier League action, Liverpool left the City Ground with three points that felt closer to a smash-and-grab than a statement of dominance. This was not flowing football. It was not tactical superiority. It was endurance, fortune, and a decisive late moment from Alexis Mac Allister that preserved champion credentials.

The Starting Eleven

Liverpool XI

• GK – Alisson Becker

• RB – Curtis Jones

• CB – Ibrahima Konaté

• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

• LB – Milos Kerkez

• CM – Alexis Mac Allister

• CM – Ryan Gravenberch

• CM – Dominik Szoboszlai

• LW – Cody Gakpo

• CF – Hugo Ekitike

• RW – Mohamed Salah

Substitutes

Federico Chiesa → Cody Gakpo (77’)

Rio Ngumoha → Mohamed Salah (77’)

Joe Gomez → Curtis Jones (83’)

Andy Robertson → Milos Kerkez (83’)

Goals

Nottingham Forest 0–1 Liverpool – Alexis Mac Allister – 90+7’

Match Statistics

• Possession – Nottingham Forest 47% | Liverpool 53%

• XG – Nottingham Forest 1.26 | Liverpool 1.76

• Total Shots – Nottingham Forest 18 | Liverpool 10

• Fouls – Nottingham Forest 13 | Liverpool 9

• Corners – Nottingham Forest 7 | Liverpool 2

First Half

Anfield’s inconsistency-ridden champions arrived at the City Ground knowing the dangers of narrative. A so-called “new manager bounce” often brings ferocity, and Forest delivered exactly that.

Liverpool were second best for much of the opening 45 minutes. Forest pressed aggressively, won second balls, and forced the visitors into rushed distribution. Eighteen total shots across the game tells its own story — the home side were brave and proactive.

Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister struggled to dictate tempo, while Szoboszlai found little space between lines. Cody Gakpo was unable to combine effectively with Kerkez down the left, and Mohamed Salah was tightly marshalled on the opposite flank. Hugo Ekitike cut an isolated figure, feeding on scraps rather than service.

Alisson Becker and his centre-back pairing of Konaté and Van Dijk were required to remain alert and kept the score level. The captain, in particular, organised constantly, ensuring territorial pressure did not translate into scoreboard damage.

At the break, Liverpool were fortunate to be level.

Second Half

The restart brought a slight improvement in structure but not immediate control. Forest continued to carry a threat, particularly from wide areas and set pieces, reflected in their seven corners to Liverpool’s two.

Mac Allister saw a goal ruled out during the stoppage time — a warning that Liverpool were beginning to find moments despite the overall imbalance. Yet rhythm still evaded them for much of that half.

The pivotal moment came at 77 minutes. Arne Slot introduced Federico Chiesa and, more significantly, Rio Ngumoha. The teenager injected pace and direct running that immediately unsettled Forest’s defensive shape. Where Liverpool had been predictable, they suddenly became chaotic — in the best possible way.

Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson later reinforced defensive stability, preparing the side for either a final push or necessary containment.

Then, deep into stoppage time, Liverpool struck. In the 97th minute, Alexis Mac Allister arrived to deliver the decisive finish — ruthless, composed, and devastating for the hosts.

Final Thoughts

Liverpool finished with the result they required, though not the performance they might have wanted. The statistical balance shows a contest closer than comfort suggests, and Forest will feel aggrieved not to have taken something.

But champions are defined by outcomes. They survive when momentum deserts them. They seize margins when clarity fades.

This was not vintage Liverpool.

It was mature Liverpool.

And sometimes, that is enough.

Steven Smith’s Pre-Match Prediction:

Nottingham Forest 1 – 2 Liverpool