Victor Muñoz's brilliant late equaliser secured Liverpool a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest, who twice took the lead at Anfield and once again highlighted the hosts' defensive vulnerabilities. The result came in front of prospective new vice-chair Amit Bhatia and his father-in-law, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, invited guests of principal owner John W Henry.
Forest exploit Liverpool's defensive weaknesses
Nottingham Forest were full value for the second 2-2 draw of Andoni Iraola's tenure as Liverpool demonstrated they need sturdier foundations as well as the decoration of £123m signing Bradley Barcola. Oliver Glasner's team, like Newcastle last week, exploited Liverpool's defensive frailties regularly and were on course for a third successive Premier League win at Anfield before Muñoz salvaged a point.
Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White twice put Forest ahead, only for Alexander Isak and Muñoz to level for the hosts. The visitors' pace and sharp movement caused problems from the outset, with first-time long balls releasing Ndoye behind the home defence twice in the opening six minutes.
Billionaire guests witness familiar issues
Bhatia and Mittal, who has given financial backing to 1892 Holdings acquiring a 38% stake in Liverpool, were watching from the directors' box. Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin, other billionaire members of the consortium, were not in attendance. The club's principal owner was present to witness the start of a brave new era at Anfield, which looked very much like the old one, even down to Dominik Szoboszlai ending the contest at right-back.
After a rousing tribute before kick-off to the late Kevin Keegan, Liverpool were soon exposed. Alexis Mac Allister created the first real opening with an incisive pass into Cody Gakpo, who was denied by an excellent Neco Williams tackle, but otherwise the most persistent threat in the first half came from the visitors.
Forest's opener and disallowed Liverpool goal
Ola Aina and Ndoye combined to give Igor Jesus an early opportunity from four yards out, with the striker's shot deflected wide by the outstretched boot of Jérémy Jacquet. Ndoye then headed wide from James McAtee's cross, and Igor Jesus had another shot blocked with Gibbs-White screaming for a pass in front of goal.
The breakthrough came when Matz Sels's long clearance released Igor Jesus, who held up the ball to find Gibbs-White. He rolled a simple pass to the unmarked Ndoye, and the Switzerland international steered a precise finish low beyond Alisson's left hand and inside the far corner.
Anfield erupted when Florian Wirtz swept a smart finish on the turn inside Sels's right-hand post, but the goal was disallowed by the video assistant referee for an offside against Jeremie Frimpong in the buildup. Patience in Frimpong is in short supply at Anfield judging by the exasperation that greeted his poor crossing and defensive toils, and Iraola replaced both full-backs before the afternoon was over.
Alisson saves and Isak leveller
Sels tipped over from Wirtz's header following a fine cross by Gakpo, potentially playing his final Liverpool game depending on their incomings over the next few days. But the hosts were indebted to Alisson for denying Forest a second goal on the stroke of half-time, when Aina flew past Muñoz before picking out Igor Jesus, whose first-time effort flew towards the top corner only for Alisson to produce a superb, crucial save onto the crossbar.
The Brazilian's intervention assumed even greater significance when Liverpool levelled on the hour. Gakpo gave a timely reminder of his quality when receiving Wirtz's pass and spinning away from two Forest defenders, Williams and Murillo, in one movement. He then supplied a perfect pass across the face of the Forest goal for Isak to tap home his first goal of the campaign.
Quick thinking by Forest substitute Liam Delap, coupled with dozy defending from Jacquet and Frimpong, enabled the visitors to retake the lead from the penalty spot. Delap released Williams into the penalty area with a quickly-taken throw-in while the Liverpool defenders slept. The former Liverpool full-back sent a shot high and wide before being felled by the keeper, who was booked for his protests. Gibbs-White swept an emphatic penalty kick to the keeper's right as Alisson dived left.
Liverpool, improved by Iraola's substitutions, fought back for a second time when Wirtz pierced the Forest defence with a fine pass behind Murillo to Muñoz. The £34.5m summer signing from Osasuna marked his home debut with a brilliant finish off the underside of the crossbar to rescue a point for Iraola's work-in-progress.
