Nunez strikes last gasp winner to give Liverpool crucial victory at Forest

02 March 2024 , 17:01

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Darwin Nunez came off the bench to head the winner in the ninth minute of added time (Image: Getty Images)

Darwin Nunez scored a dramatic winner in the ninth minute of injury time to give Liverpool a huge win at Nottingham Forest.

The Uruguayan came off the bench to score a header from an Alexis Mac Allister assist as Forest fumed at the amount of added time awarded and referee Paul Tierney's decision to stop a Forest attack due to a head injury to Ibrahima Konate. When Tierney restarted play he gave Liverpool an uncontested drop ball which allowed them to start an attack, and a few moments later they scored.

The first half struggled to provide much entertainment, but Caoimhin Kelleher saved well from Anthony Elanga following a fast Forest break, while Luis Diaz and Bobby Clark, on his first Premier League start, narrowly missed the target and Diaz saw a close range effort blocked.

Elanga had another great chance for the hosts in the first half but fired wide, with Liverpool substitute Nunez and Cody Gakpo both shooting into the side netting in the second half for a largely disjointed Reds side.

But Nunez then won it deep into added time with a header from an Alexis Mac Allister cross as Forest fumed. Here are the main talking points from the game.

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1. Caoimhin Kelleher comes up big again

Kelleher is needed by Liverpool in the absence of Alisson (MI News/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)

There's a good chance that Elanga would have been flagged offside if he'd put the ball in the net midway though the first half, but Kelleher wasn't to know that.

The Irish goalkeeper stood up tall to save well from the former Manchester United winger, whose effort wasn't great and was a bit too close to Kelleher, but it still needed impressively saving.

The 25-year-old is likely to become one of the key figures in this Liverpool season given the injury to Alisson, and he looks to be growing week by week.

2. Uncertainty reigns at the City Ground

Evangelos Marinakis watches on during a meek opening to the game (AFP via Getty Images)

The early exchanges by the Trent weren't exactly the most frenetic, and that in itself feels worth noting.

This is, after all, something of a historical derby given the two clubs' rivalry from the 1970s and 80s, and there is still no love lost between the two sets of fans for a variety of non-sporting reasons.

But there remains a cloud over Nottingham Forest due to the potential of a points deduction hanging over them, and the City Ground was curiously passive during the opening exchanges which allowed a patched up Liverpool side to gain a much-needed foothold, before it burst into life late on after Nunez's winner which sparked wild and furious scenes as Forest owner Evangelos Marinakas stormed onto the pitch.

3. A show of faith in Bobby Clark

Bobby Clark made his first ever Premier League start (PA)

The first half wasn't a classic, but much of what Liverpool were attempting was involving the teenage midfielder Clark, who was making his first Premier League start after a hugely impressive week.

While the likes of Gakpo and Harvey Elliott looked somewhat weary following their efforts in the past week, Clark was bright and full of endeavour, and it would be no surprise if he's now a regular in the first-team picture for the remainder of the season as an option for Jurgen Klopp, even when more of the big hitters come back.

4. Striking issues for Forest

Antony Elanga missed good chances in both halves (PA)

The sight of Divock Origi in attack for the hosts was something that would have made Liverpool fans feel nervous due to his knack of scoring big goals, but ultimately there was a lack of cutting edge in attack from the hosts.

Elanga had their best two chances, one in each half, but on both occasions a lack of coolness in front of goal let both him and Forest down. There are more winnable games than Liverpool at home of course, but that is something that they are going to need to address in their relegation battle.

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5. Nunez returns in style

How big could that Nunez goal be for Liverpool in the title race? That remains to be seen, but the joy that it provoked tells its own story.

Liverpool will now go into next weekend's clash with Manchester City certain to be top of the table, and a win would surely make them title favourites.

This could be a day, and a goal, they remember for decades.

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Mark Jones