Mac Allister's Late Heroics Rescue Liverpool in Dramatic Forest Clash
In a stunning turn of events deep into stoppage time, Alexis Mac Allister delivered a crucial winning goal for Liverpool, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The Argentine midfielder's decisive strike came in the 97th minute, moments after he had seen a potential goal controversially ruled out by the video assistant referee for an alleged handball.
VAR Drama Precedes Match-Winning Moment
The match's climax was preceded by significant controversy when Mac Allister thought he had broken the deadlock earlier in stoppage time. His effort was disallowed after the ball appeared to strike Forest defender Ola Aina's clearance before rebounding into the net past goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who had initially saved Hugo Ekitiké's header. Liverpool manager Arne Slot was visibly furious with the decision, believing the ball had made contact with Mac Allister's back rather than his arm.
This dramatic sequence unfolded during Vítor Pereira's first Premier League match in charge of Nottingham Forest, with the Portuguese manager's side putting up an impressive resistance against the title-chasing visitors.
Liverpool's Struggles and Eventual Breakthrough
For much of the contest, Liverpool appeared disjointed and ineffective, particularly during a first half where they managed just two shots—one blocked and one off target—while registering only three touches in the Forest penalty area. The visitors seemed to be suffering from the aftereffects of their recent travels, despite having last played eight days prior, while Forest appeared energized following their memorable 3-0 victory at Fenerbahce just days earlier.
Nottingham Forest displayed confidence and aggression from the opening whistle, with Ibrahim Sangaré winning possession early and creating chances for Callum Hudson-Odoi and Omari Hutchinson. The hosts' positive approach was exemplified by defender Murillo stepping up for set pieces and Nikola Milenkovic attempting ambitious strikes from distance.
Second-Half Improvement and Decisive Moment
Liverpool showed slight improvement after halftime, with their first meaningful attacking move arriving in the 53rd minute when Cody Gakpo found Mohamed Salah at the back post. Salah's headed knockdown created an opportunity for Curtis Jones, whose volley was blocked by Ortega. This represented Liverpool's only other shot on target until the dramatic finale.
The introduction of 17-year-old substitute Rio Ngumoha provided fresh impetus for Liverpool in the closing stages, with the youngster involved in the buildup to Mac Allister's disallowed effort. Ultimately, it was Mac Allister who proved decisive, pouncing on a loose ball in the Forest penalty area to secure three precious points that moved Liverpool level with Chelsea in the standings.
Forest's Promising Performance Despite Defeat
Despite the heartbreaking late defeat, Nottingham Forest produced an encouraging performance that built upon their European success. Pereira's decision to field an unchanged lineup from Thursday's victory in Istanbul nearly paid dividends, with his team demonstrating both mental and physical freshness throughout the contest.
Elliot Anderson emerged as Forest's standout performer, catching the eye with his creative play and narrowly missing the target with a curling effort. The hosts' organized defensive structure and aggressive pressing caused significant problems for Liverpool for much of the match, suggesting Pereira's tenure might bring positive developments despite this disappointing result.
For Liverpool, this victory represented an escape from what appeared destined to be a missed opportunity against opponents positioned just above the relegation zone. The three points keep them firmly in the title conversation, though questions will remain about their overall performance level ahead of crucial fixtures in the coming weeks.
