Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool: Diogo Jota equalised with first touch but Chris Wood goal takes Forest second | Football News

Diogo Jota came off the bench to score with his first touch to earn Liverpool a 1-1 draw away to Nottingham Forest as the home side moved into second spot.

The Liverpool forward’s header from Kostas Tsimikas’ corner – just 22 seconds after both came on – cancelled out Chris Wood’s early goal to maintain Liverpool’s unbeaten away record in the Premier League and their six-point lead at the top of the table.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest saw their run of six Premier League wins come to an end but the hard-fought point still moves them above Arsenal and into second. They could not quite do the double over Liverpool but it was still a reminder of what a good side they have become.

Forest needed some big saves from Matz Sels to hang on for the draw, Ola Aina also clearing off the line to deny Mohamed Salah late in the game. But the East Midlands team deserved some reward for their efforts. Both teams can take the positives from this.

Forest’s resolve shines through

Forest’s now famed ability to restrict the opposition to low-quality chances was evident in the early stages. Liverpool had nine shots inside the first half but none were on target and none were as clear as the opportunity clinically taken by Wood early in the game.

Scoring the first goal and then digging in? This has become the trademark of Nuno’s Forest and they frustrated Liverpool for long periods, getting bodies between ball and goal, denying space in behind, and posing a considerable threat on the counter-attack.

“It is very hard to create a chance against them,” Slot had said beforehand. The Liverpool boss had to turn to his bench to find one worthy of the name, the impact instant. Tsimikas crossed for Jota to head in from close range and the game changed.

It was Jota’s first touch. He had a shot saved by Matz Sels soon afterwards, meaning that he had come up with both of Liverpool’s shots on target within moments of his introduction. His third chance might have won it but Sels spread himself to deny him.

Having not been required in the first half, Sels was the star of the second for Forest, pulling off fingertip saves to deny Salah and Cody Gakpo, while he needed Aina’s help to clear off the line to stop Salah arrowing in the winner. But Forest made their point.

Player of the match: Murillo

Analysis by Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:

“Lots of excellent performances from Nottingham Forest players but Murillo was probably the pick of them, just ahead of Sels, whose saves were so important.

“The centre-back was like a magnet for the ball in the Forest box, repelling almost everything. His total of 18 clearances was the most by any player in any Premier League game all season.

“The previous highest total? Murillo was responsible for that too, making 15 clearances in Forest’s draw with Brighton in September. Breaking his own records and making his mark in the Premier League. Superb defender.”

Merson: Liverpool will be kicking themselves

Sky Sports’ Paul Merson:

“Liverpool were very good in the second half. In the first, they were poor.

“Forest gave a good account of themselves but Liverpool will be kicking themselves they didn’t go on to win.

“Forest weren’t in the same class as Liverpool.

“Forest will be fighting top four and Liverpool will only be looking at Arsenal.”

Nuno hails heart and desire

“First half, we were really organised, Liverpool had the ball but were not able to break us,” said Nuno.

“In the second half, we knew Liverpool would react, especially when the game had spaces for their talented players. Matz Selz was huge for us and kept us in the game.

“The final moments were about heart and desire.” He added: “We finished on the ropes but the team worked very well.”

On the supporters, Nuno said: “The bond that the team and the fans are building for this journey that we are sharing is very powerful.”

Slot’s bold change pays off

Slot was targeted by the Forest supporters throughout the game, even his choice of footwear being a cause for criticism. With Liverpool one down in the second half, they started the chant, ‘Arne Slot, it’s happening again’, a reference to Forest’s win at Anfield.

The Dutchman forced a smile in their direction and while he did not quite have the last laugh, his team did force the equaliser that maintains Liverpool’s unbeaten Premier League away record. It came as a result of his own intervention following a bold change.

Bringing on Tsimikas for the struggling Andy Robertson was obvious enough but removing Ibrahima Konate for Jota required some imagination. Ryan Gravenberch dropped into defence and Luis Diaz briefly operated in a deeper role in midfield.

Slot’s game-changing decisions have been praised ever since the opening weekend but seldom will a switch pay off as quickly as this – both substitutes combining for the equaliser. He wanted a win. But this could yet prove to be a precious point for Liverpool.

Slot: I couldn’t have asked for more

Asked by Kirsty Edwards for Sky Sports whether he had ever made a more successful substitution, Slot said: “No, I don’t think so. Not that I can remember. Although I don’t feel any pride in the substitution, because you have a certain game plan why you do this.

“In this situation, we brought an attacker in for a defender just to play even more attacking Football than we already did, because we needed goals. And then scoring from a set-piece is not something I had in my mind when I brought the two onto the field.”

On the performance, he added: “I couldn’t have asked for more today. I think that most people talk about the second half, they were really positive about the second half. If you ask me, I’m more positive about the second half than the first half [too].

“But we were playing against a team in such good form, that hardly concedes a chance in every single game, and I have watched many of them back, and has so many counter-attack threats.

“Almost every game they have counter-attack after counter-attack after counter-attack. We conceded only one counter-attack today, in 98 minutes of the ball, total domination.

“It’s not what we wanted, we wanted to have three points, but in the end, what I want, what the fans should want, and what the players should want, is that they give it all they’ve got during every single game they play, and that’s what they did today, combined with outstanding football.”

“I couldn’t have asked for more today.”

Story of the match in stats

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