Liverpool continued their spectacular run on all fronts with a vital victory away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, courtesy of a really late aim by Darwin Nunez.
Slender contest
Liverpool dominated the sport on the Metropolis Floor, with the ball at their ft for 79% of the time, a complete of twenty-two pictures in comparison with eight from the house aspect, although each groups hit the goal simply twice apiece.
However for a big a part of the sport, the Merseysiders regarded precisely the way in which a staff severely ravaged by accidents whereas enjoying each three or 4 days could be anticipated to look, bereft of creativity, struggling to seek out gaps within the opposition defence, and holding the ball for big spells with out inflicting their opponents any precise issues.
It took slightly below quarter-hour of the sport for any signal of pleasure at both finish to come back, and it was truly Forest who threatened first as former Anfield hero Divock Origi let one fly from vary, sending the ball simply extensive of the goal. Liverpool rapidly responded by Luis Diaz, whose deflected shot got here even nearer, and after the following nook, teenage midfielder Bobby Clark missed the highest nook by round a foot.
Arguably the perfect likelihood of the sport adopted as Forest hit on the counter assault, when Origi launched the run of former Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga, solely to see him crushed by Caoimhin Kelleher within the Liverpool aim. Nevertheless, a more in-depth have a look at the state of affairs later left the impression that, had Elanga scored, the aim would possible have been dominated out by the VAR for offside.
Quickly afterwards, Diaz once more got here shut for Liverpool after a scramble within the Forest field, however Murillo was there to thwart the Colombian winger on the sting of six yards.
Initially of the second half, Andy Robertson had a good chance to place the guests forward, however Andrew Omobamidele dove in to dam the shot that will surely have hit the again of the online.
With an hour gone, Jurgen Klopp withdrew Clark and Robertson, feeling it was time to regular the midfield part with Wataru Endo and take a look at a extra energetic method upfront with Nunez. Joe Gomez, who began the sport on the midfield base, moved to the left defensive flank as Endo took up his unique place. Harvey Elliott moved into midfield as a substitute of Clark, and Cody Gakpo went proper to make means for Nunez within the central attacking space.
The modifications did deliver the impact meant; it was tougher for the Forest defence to maintain issues tight with the Uruguayan striker to reckon with. Nevertheless, within the 66th minute, Elanda once more got here shut for Forest after a high-quality staff transfer, involving Nicolas Dominguez, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Harry Toffolo, however his shot flew simply extensive of the far publish.
Simply because it regarded Nuno Espirito Santo’s staff could be gaining a greater grip on the sport in that interval, Liverpool confirmed how harmful they are often in transition when Alexis Mac Allister gained the ball in the course of the park and launched Nunez. The Uruguayan engaged Gakpo on the correct, and although he had Nunez once more and Elliott in help, the Netherlands worldwide fired one himself, hitting not more than the surface of the online.
Liverpool turned up the strain because the match went into the ultimate quarter-hour. They got here shut as soon as extra by Diaz, who performed a one-two with Mac Allister and fired a shot extensive from the sting of the field. On the finish, Hudson-Odoi examined Kelleher on the stroke of 80 minutes, however the Irish goalkeeper was alert.
Tensions began rising in the direction of the tip, after Liverpool substitute Jayden Danns picked up a yellow card for needlessly clattering Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels, who wanted fairly a protracted remedy earlier than play was resumed.
On the finish of the 90, the fourth official introduced the choice of referee Paul Tierney that there could be a minimum of eight minutes of stoppage time, a lot to the annoyance of the house supporters, and in that interval, solely Liverpool have been enjoying to win. The Reds got here as shut as ever within the 94th minute when a nook deflected off Murillo prompted a shocking reflex save from Sels. Forest threatened solely as soon as in stoppage time, by a Morgan Gibbs-White shot blocked by Virgil van Dijk.
And as Tierney added one other minute into the reckoning after reserving two Forest gamers for time losing, all of it got here right down to a remaining nook for Liverpool. It was taken by Szoboszlai and initially cleared by Omobamidele. Kostas Tsimikas then fired into the group from simply contained in the field. It was picked up by Hudson-Odoi and Awoniyi, however between them, the 2 Forest attackers messed issues up and misplaced the ball to Mac Allister. The Argentinian rotated Awoniyi to ship one remaining cross in, catching the Forest defence on their heels as Nunez pounced to attain, sending the away part of the stands into ecstasy, and the remainder into groans of disappointment.
Controversies
Not often has Paul Tierney officiated a Liverpool sport with out his resolution being analysed and argued over, and although this time he largely did a superb job, Forest nonetheless consider that they had trigger to complain for just a few issues. They clearly had a problem with the eight minute of stoppage time, compounded by the truth that the clock was exhibiting 99:38 when Nunez scored. However most of all, that they had an issue with the ball not being returned to their possession two minutes earlier than the aim, when Tierney stopped the play for a potential head damage of Ibrahima Konate within the Liverpool field.
The very fact of the matter is, it was certainly a mistake from Tierney. Had he blown the whistle to cease the play right away, he would’ve been proper to present it again to Liverpool later. Sadly, he blew it a second or two too late, wherein time the ball had already gone to Hudson-Odoi, and subsequently it ought to’ve been given again to the Forest winger. Then again, Forest’s proper to complain is questionable, on the grounds that two minutes handed between the restart of the play after that incident, and Nunez heading previous Sels. There was loads of play in between, they usually can’t actually argue that Tierney’s mistake led to Liverpool scoring.
Nonetheless, Mark Clattenburg, the previous Premier League referee now working for Forest as a refereeing analyst, believes in any other case.
Mark Clattenburg, the previous Premier League referee who’s now working in a refereeing evaluation function for Nottingham Forest spoke following controversy on the finish of their sport with Liverpool⬇️ pic.twitter.com/O9PTmharCT
— Sky Sports activities Information (@SkySportsNews) March 2, 2024
Be that as it could, nothing will clearly come of Forest’s protests, as Liverpool themselves discovered once they had a superbly official aim dominated out towards Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season. After that sport, the Merseysiders loudly known as for the falling refereeing requirements within the English prime flight to be addressed and have been largely instructed to “recover from it and transfer on”, as a result of “errors occur”.
Different groups, together with Liverpool’s title rivals Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal, have since been arduous achieved by officers. Now Forest have as nicely, although clearly not as arduous, regardless of Clattenburg’s want to make noise.
Recover from it, Mark. Transfer on. Errors occur.
Desk rankings
The purpose misplaced by Nunez’s late aim may nicely come again to hang-out Forest on the finish of the season. In the interim, they’re 4 factors away from the relegation zone, although Luton City in 18th place have a sport in hand. It’ll actually be a troublesome battle for survival. For Burnley and Sheffield United, each on 13 factors from 27 and 26 matches respectively, it appears already misplaced.
Wanting on the different finish of the Premier League desk, Liverpool will stay on the prime after this weekend. They’re 4 factors above Manchester Metropolis in second place, and Pep Guardiola’s aspect face metropolis rivals Manchester United on the Etihad on Sunday. Arsenal, who play away to Sheffield United away on Monday, are some extent under Metropolis.
Klopp will certainly be glad to have Nunez and Szoboszlai again from damage, to not point out Mohamed Salah who is anticipated again in rivalry for the Manchester Metropolis conflict at Anfield subsequent week. And even then, Liverpool will nonetheless have the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch to come back again. Diogo Jota will most likely take some time longer than the remainder, as will Stefan Bajcetic. The season is over for Joel Matip and it could be the case with Thiago Alcantara as nicely, and the pair of them might have already performed their final video games for Liverpool with their contracts expiring in the summertime.
