02 March 2024 , 17:41
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed an "incredible" Alexis Mac Allister assist after his ball in to Darwin Nunez helped the Uruguayan give his team victory in the ninth minute of stoppage time against Nottingham Forest.
For much of the game at the City Ground, Klopp's title contenders looked as though they would be frustrated by Nuno Espirito Santo's team. With time running out, though, Nunez rose highest to head home Mac Allister's delivery and give the Reds a dramatic victory.
With Manchester City playing on Sunday and Arsenal in action on Monday, it was a chance which some felt Liverpool couldn't afford to pass up. Injuries had left Klopp down to the bare bones for the midweek FA Cup victory over Southampton, but the return of Nunez, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai to the matchday squad suggested things were starting to look up.
The manager still needed to call on some academy talents, with Bobby Clark and Conor Bradley starting and Jayden Danns coming on as a late sub. In the end, though, it was big-money striker Nunez who made the difference.
"Most difficult game we played because of the circumstances," Klopp told Sky Sports. "Four games in 11 days is really tricky with the squad situation we have.
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"It was super special. You could see it didn't go easy for us today in any part of the game. It's so hard. How we have four wins, I can't believe.
"Incredible assist in the very last second. Wonderful feeling. I'm really happy. I can't ask for more than what the boys are doing.
"Next Sunday would be a massive game anyway. Before that we play a difficult game in Prague. We have to keep going, recover."
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(AFP via Getty Images)Klopp also hailed Mac Allister in his comments to The BBC. "The goal was set up by a guy who was the calmest on the whole pitch," he said. "I saw it only live but I'll never forget it. He was calm. He chips the ball there. Super assist and super important goal."
Mac Allister was also delighted at the final whistle. "This is such a special day for us," the former Brighton man said (via The BBC ).
"To win it like that is not easy. We came to a tough place. In that moment I knew it was last minute and I just had to put it in. Darwin is such an important player for us.
"There is no easy game in the Premier League. Very happy, very happy. It's three points. We move onto Thursday. We were always positive. Our leaders were keeping the team very positive. We're a good group, nice players on and off the pitch."
The games continue to come thick and fast for Liverpool, who are still fighting for silverware on three fronts after already winning the Carabao Cup. They have Europa League meetings with Sparta Praha on each of the next two Thursdays, with a huge league game against title rivals Manchester City sandwiched in between.
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