14 January 2025
Nott’m Forest 1 Liverpool 1
It was the pick of the fixtures as third-placed Nottingham Forest welcomed league-leaders Liverpool to the City Ground. Many had dismissed the hosts’ chance of securing a top four finish this season but victory against Arne Slot’s side would mean so much more. The question then would be whether Nuno Espirito Santo’s side could mount a title challenge.
Liverpool had hit their own mini-blip, of sorts. Apart from a victory against Accrington in the FA Cup, Arne Slot’s side had not won a game this calendar year. A draw with Man Utd at Anfield was followed up with defeat in North London against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. Should they lose to Forest in this game, questions would be asked of The Reds’ title credentials.
The hosts made the perfect start as Hudson-Odoi won the ball back on the halfway line. His pass found Elanga in space in the middle of the park. Wood had made a run off his marker at the back post and the pass from his teammate was inch perfect. The Kiwi striker did not even need to control it and struck a first-time shot into the far corner to open the scoring.
Forest had taken the lead with only eight minutes on the clock. The City Ground was bouncing and things were not looking good for Arne Slot’s side. This was going to be a tough enough obstacle but now they had an even bigger mountain to climb. There was nothing Alisson could have done to prevent it, Wood’s finish was clinical.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were happy to play a counter-attacking style. The visitors dominated possession but were struggling to do anything with it. They were having to resort to shots from distance and it was clear to see that their players did not have their shooting boots on. Diaz in particular missed some decent chances from the edge of the penalty area.
Sadly for Slot, the Columbian was sending his shots all over the stands but nowhere near the goal. He has been struggling to rekindle the form he started the season in and had started squandering chances. Not that he was the only Liverpool player to be guilty of this. As the teams headed into the break, The Reds had failed to register a single shot on target.
As the home fans headed for their half-time refreshments, they truly could not believe the moment they were living in. They led against the league leaders, knowing that victory would reduce the gap between the two sides to a mere three points. Dreams were beginning to linger of that infamous season where Leicester City shocked the footballing world and whether they could replicate it.
After the interval, the hosts continued to look dangerous when Gibbs-White was involved. With Hudson-Odoi and Elanga on the flanks, both Robertson and Alexander-Arnold were having a tough time of it. Having got the lead, the hosts seemed happy to sit back and get eleven players behind the ball whenever Liverpool had possession.
Slot needed to make some changes if his team were going to turn this game around. Konate and Robertson made way as Jota and Tsimikas entered the fray. The Reds forced a corner and their Greek full-back headed over to take it. It would prove to be his first touch of the ball since coming on. The Reds loaded the box with players.
Tsimikas swung in a teasing ball and Jota rose to head home to send the away end into pandemonium. The substitutes had combined to draw Liverpool level, having only been on the pitch for something like thirty seconds. The goal turned the game on its head, Nuno Espirito Santo’s tactics were out of the window now, their lead had gone.
Moments later, Alexander-Arnold cut the ball back from the byline and Jota thundered a shot towards goal from eight yards out. He connected perfectly with it but Sels made a brilliant save to deny him. The Forest keeper was earning his keep for his team, having ensured they stayed on level terms in this instance.
The visitors started to dominate the game and Szoboszlai tried his luck from just outside the box. His swerving shot seemed to be heading into the bottom corner but once again Sels got down to tip it around the post for a corner. The keeper was starting to become a thorn in the side of The Reds, beating him would take something special.
Mac Allister then threaded a ball through to Salah in the box. He took one touch to get it under his spell before looking to bend a shot into the top corner of the goal. Sels made an acrobatic save to tip it over the bar once again. The Reds were wondering how they were going to find a way past the Belgian goalkeeper.
As the resulting corner came in, Sels clawed it away at the near post. It dropped to Salah on the penalty spot, who executed a perfect volley into the corner of the goal. The only problem for the visitors was that Aina was there to clear it off the line. Forest were struggling to keep Liverpool out, as they flexed their attacking muscle, they were creating chance after chance.
Late on in the game, Gakpo cut in from the right flank. He shifted the ball onto his right foot and looked to bend a shot into the far corner. His effort arrowed through a sea of players but Sels got down well to deny them once again. The points were shared at the City Ground and the hosts were somewhat relieved to hear the final whistle.
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