Late, late Nunez header seals vital victory for Klopp's Liverpool
CLUTCH INTERVENTION: Liverpool's Darwin Nunez scores the winning goal in the closing stages. Pic: Mike Egerton, PA Wire.
Liverpool went four points clear at the top of the Premier League after Darwin Nunez’s dramatic 99th winner spoiled a defiant display from Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The scoreboard read 0-0 heading into the dying embers with Liverpool looking like missing out on the chance to extend their lead over their title-chasing rivals.
Victory for Manchester City in the Manchester derby tomorrow would have put Pep Guardiola’s side back on top of the Premier League summit whilst a win for Arsenal away to struggling Sheffield United would have put them level with Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Nuno Espírito Santo must have been grateful for his backline, in particular Andrew Omobamidele and Murillo, who stifled Liverpool’s attack throughout.
Liverpool’s complacency in the final third and wasted opportunities was another factor.
It all became academic when Nunez marked his return from injury, meeting Alexis Mac Allister's superb cross with a glancing header in the 99th minute to steal all three points for Liverpool.
As expected, Liverpool started with all the possession but lacked any punch early on as Forest sat in and looked to pounce on the counter.
Divock Origi - a cult hero at Liverpool - made a rare start up top in place of Taiwo Awoniyi and fashioned the first opening of the game.
He trapped the ball and showed great strength to fend off the attentions of Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson. His fierce left-footed shot from outside the box whistled past the post.
Minutes later Liverpool had their first sight of goal after Luis Diaz’s slalomed his way into space and saw his deflected effort crash into the side-netting.
Liverpool’s high line is a constant risk, and even more so against a side who possess such brisk attackers.
Forest’s first swift break came when Origi played Anthony Elanga clean through on goal just past the 20-minute mark. An inspired Caoimhín Kelleher met Elanga head-on and diverted his effort away from goal with a crucial save with his foot.
The Cork man played a leading role in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win and their FA Cup fifth-round triumph over Southampton in midweek and was again called upon to deny Elanga.
One of Jurgen Klopp’s kids then went close as Bobby Clark curled a sumptuous effort just over the bar. He then scuffed his effort from inside the box after Conor Bradley’s precise cut-back.
Diaz would have buried the rebound if not for Murillo’s sensational last-ditch block.
Further chances for the visitors went astray as Diaz shot wide after a delicate dinked ball from Alexis Mac Allister before Cody Gakpo’s wayward header went back across goal rather than at it following another deft ball from Mac Allister into the box.
No shots on target for the league leaders going into the interval.
Liverpool’s stark injury list was offered some reprieve when Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez returned to Liverpool’s bench.
The latter was introduced on the hour mark and went close with a left-footed effort that hit the side netting.
Awoniyi’s exclusion raised a few eyebrows, but he did not seem too disheartened as he immediately pinned himself up against Virgil van Dijk after being brought on for Origi. He rolled the ball onto the overlapping Harry Toffolo who pulled the ball back for Elanga.
For the second time in the game, the former Manchester United winger had the goal at his mercy but could only side-foot his effort wide of the far post.
Gakpo then should have opened the scoring on 70 minutes when he was released by Nunez’s weighted pass, but he rushed the shot and skewed his effort wide.
Liverpool threw everything at Forest in the closing stages as Diaz again went close with an effort from the top of the box after combining wonderfully with Mac Allister.
Forest were holding on for a valuable point in the race to avoid relegation but were left furious at the end of the game when Paul Tierney blew for a Liverpool head injury.
Forest were in possession, but Tierney gave Liverpool the ball back.
From that, Liverpool forced the corner which led to Nunez’s dramatic and somewhat controversial 99th minute winner to keep Klopp’s side in control of the Premier League title race.
Sels 6; Williams 6, Omobamidele 7, Murillo 8, Toffolo 6; Dominguez 7 (Danilo, 79), Yates 7, Origi 7 (Awoniyi, 65), Gibbs-White 6, Hudson-Odoi 6; Elanga 5.
Kelleher 8; Bradley 6 (Tsimikas, 84) Konate 6, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 6 (Nunez, 60); Mac Allister 7, Gomez 6, Clark 6 (Endo, 60); Elliot 5 (Szoboszlai, 76), Gakpo 5 (Danns, 84) Diaz 6.
Paul Tierney 6
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