Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool LIVE: Result and reaction as Forest hold on for thrilling draw
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool: Chris Wood puts the hosts ahead early before Diogo Jota equalised and Matz Sels pulled off a number of saves to preserve the draw
Substitute Diogo Jota’s second-half header earned Liverpool a battling 1-1 draw with surprise title rivals Nottingham Forest, keeping the Premier League leaders six points clear at the top of the standings.
High-flying Forest, who are enjoying a remarkable season after just avoiding relegation last term, raced into the lead in an electric City Ground atmosphere through striker Chris Wood with eight minutes on the clock.
Liverpool, whose only league defeat this season prior to their trip to the East Midlands came against Forest in September, looked to be heading for another humbling before Jota headed home a 66th-minute equaliser from a corner.
Jota and Mohamed Salah went close to securing victory for Liverpool late on but found home goalkeeper Matz Sels in inspired form. Instead, the draw ensured Arne Slot’s team sit six points above second-placed Forest, who have played a game more.
Relive all the action from the City Ground with our live blog below:
WATCH: Forest take the lead
Here’s that Wood goal. Lovely ball from Elanga and a great finish
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool, 15 mins
Murillo crunches Gravenberch - Forest are really up for this. Referee Chris Kavanagh letting a lot go so far. Alexander-Arnold has a shot but it’s well wide
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool, 10 mins
The City Ground is shaking now - what an atmosphere! Forest are feeling this now and immediately attack again. Murillo takes aim from 30 yards and it’s only just over the bar, with Alisson at full stretch. Electric stuff.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool (Wood, 8 mins)
WOW! What a start for the underdogs!
Salah gives the ball away and Forest surge forward. Two passes, the second a slide-rule pass from Elanga, and Chris Wood, who else, is through - he strikes it early with his left foot from the left of the goal and it flies into Alisson’s far corner. Superb finish.
Who needs possession? That was clinical from Forest
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Liverpool, 6 mins
A couple of gaps through the middle of Forest that may interest Liverpool but no damage done yet. Salah twists and turns down the right and puts the cross in but Milenkovic clears.
Salah then goes again, flicks inside to Gravenberch and he skies high and wide. That was a better opportunity for the Reds
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Liverpool, 3 mins
Forest getting into Liverpool early and the crowd are already on the visitors’ backs. It’s a cracking atmosphere in Nottingham.
Neat work around the edge of the Forest box and Mac Allister shoots from 25 yards but the brick wall that is Milenkovic blocks it.
KICK-OFF! Nottingham Forest 0-0 Liverpool
And we’re off. Can Forest lay down a serious marker here?
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
The teams are out at the City Ground and kick-off is imminent
Arne Slot analyses Nottingham Forest threat
Here’s what Arne Slot had to say ahead of the clash this evening
Arne Slot explains the challenge that Liverpool face tonight
“I expect the atmosphere to be fired up from the start so it makes it even more important to not let them get going any more,” Liverpool boss Arne Slot said yesterday, lavishing praise on his opponents.
“They are a team that hardly concede goals. They don’t take many risks in their build-up play so when they lose the ball they have many players behind the ball and they defend with 11 players.
“They have a hard-working team without the ball and they can also hold the ball. (Forward) Chris Wood is a very good example of that.
“They have scored and been a threat by counter-attacks a lot, but they also have quality when they want to play with the ball. Nuno has done a great job at implementing a style of play that suits the players.”
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