Nottingham Forest 0 Liverpool 1: Darwin Nunez’s dramatic 99th minute winner keeps Klopp’s quadruple bid on track
DARWIN NUNEZ grabbed a sensational winner deep into stoppage time to end Liverpool’s incredible week.
Second-half substitute Nunez headed in Alexis Mac Allister’s cross to send the visiting fans into delirium and spark angry scenes after the final whistle.
The home bench and players, still furious about a decision by Paul Tierney moments earlier, surrounded the official as the Forest fans sang “Cheat”.
First-team coach Steven Reid was sent off, and even owner Evangelos Marinakis was close to going on the pitch.
But once the dust had settled, it was Carabao Cup winners Liverpool who had snatched victory and a crucial three points in the title race.
The Reds’ first win at the City Ground in the Premier League – and their first league victory there for 40 years – could hardly have been more dramatic.
There had already been great chances at both ends in the time added on at the end of a competitive 90 minutes.
Forest were so close to a point in their battle at the other end of the table.
It might have been three if ANthony Elanga had converted either great chance that he had.
But after so much dogged defending, they surrendered in the very last seconds.
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The first half was competitive but not of high quality.
The first big chance fell to Forest in the 23rd minute. Former Liverpool hero Divock Origi, who had already gone close with a long-range effort, found Anthony Elanga with a through ball that exposed the visitors’ high line.
But Caoimhin Kelleher came to the rescue, saving Elanga’s shot with his left leg.
At the other end Bobby Clark and Luis Diaz were Liverpool’s men most likely. When Clark’s initial shot was blocked by Andrew Omobamidele, the ball fell to Diaz at close range but Murillo made a superb block.
A few minutes later Diaz was set free on the right side of the penalty area but dragged his shot so badly it headed for the sideline.
The enigma that is Cody Gakpo chose to head a fine clipped pass from Alexis Mac Allister back across goal for reasons best known to himself.
Liverpool started the second half with more menace. An Andy Robertson cross found Clark, whose attempt to help the ball on was deflected away.
When the ball fell to Robertson in the box moments later, a goal seemed inevitable but he did not catch quite well enough and Omobamidele made another fine block.
Klopp sent on Wataru Endo and Darwin Nunez with half an hour left, in search of the crucial breakthrough.
Nunez hit the side netting from a tight angle but the next opportunity came at the other end.
Another ex-Liverpool striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, on for Origi, laid the ball back to Harry Toffolo.
His cross reached Elanga at the back post but the former Manchester United winger failed to hit the target, sending the ball back across Kelleher’s goal and wide.
As the rain teemed down, Nunez went on the charge and found Gakpo, only for the Dutchman to shoot wastefully into the side netting.
Diaz was the next guilty party, playing a good one-two with Mac Allister but firing his shot wide.
Midweek FA Cup hero Jayden Danns was thrown on with six minutes left and the desperation was evident.
First he claimed a penalty after being held by Danilo at a corner, then he earned a yellow card for a reckless jump into Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
The incident led to more stoppage time. Nunez could not get enough on a Kostas Tsimikas cross and Awoniyi had a shot deflected over the bar.
Then Sels made a superb save when a Tsimikas corner was sent goalwards by his own defender, Murillo.
There was still time for Virgil van Dijk to block a goalbound effort from Morgan Gibbs-White.
Forest’s fury began when Ibrahim Konate went down with an apparent head injury, only to recover quickly.
Tierney chose to re-start the game with a drop ball at Kelleher’s feet.
And as the clock ticked past the eight minutes, Nunez gave them the final sting in the tail.
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