Destiny seems to be driving Liverpool’s push to a quadruple as Darwin Nunez scored a 99th minute winner at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
No matter who is injured or whatever is happening on the pitch, right now Jurgen Klopp’s side are finding a way to get it done.
This win at Forest was one which they ground out as Liverpool had some good chances in the second half but they had to wait until the final attack of the game when Alexis Mac Allister’s cross found Nunez to nod home in front of the away fans who went wild. Forest defended deep and had some good chances on the counter as Caoimhin Kelleher came up big to deny Anthony Elanga in the first half, but if anyone was going to win it would be Liverpool
Forest were livid at the final whistle as they wanted an explanation from referee Paul Tierney as to why Liverpool were given the ball back two minutes before they scored the winner after Konate went down with a head injury while Forest’s Hudson-Odoi was in possession of the ball. Ugly scenes saw a fan tackled as they ran onto the pitch, plus Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis appeared on the sidelines and Forest coach Steven Reid was sent off as tempers flared for a long time after the final whistle.
With the win Liverpool move on to 63 points with 11 games to go, while Forest remain on 24 points and embroiled in the relegation scrap.
Destiny playing its part in Liverpool’s quadruple charge
Look, this is just getting silly now. In the last week Liverpool have won the League Cup with teenagers galore after hanging on, then relied on two teenagers to win in the FA Cup last 16. They then won in the 99th minute thanks to a late Darwin Nunez as key players are starting, slowly, to return. The way Liverpool are churning out these wins with effectively an entire squad of players (including Salah, Alisson and Alexander-Arnold) missing tells is destiny is playing its part here. Fate sometimes has a strange way of developing momentum in this game. Liverpool’s players right now, whoever Klopp can shove out there, all believe they will win every single time they step out onto the pitch. It is sometimes that simple. Liverpool found a way against a stubborn Forest side and rode their luck a little on the break with Kelleher coming up big once. The way Liverpool are pulling these wins out late on, against all the odds, suggests that everything is aligning perfectly for Klopp to win all four trophies in his final few months in charge. With so many players set to return in the next few weeks, Liverpool will also have a boost on the pitch but off the pitch there’s something strange in the air. Destiny.
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see Mac Allister was key in midfield for Liverpool, while defensively they were so solid once again. Nunez had a big impact off the bench as he scored the winner and caused so many problems, while Diaz ran his socks off in attack to keep Liverpool on the front foot. Hudson-Odoi and Elanga were dangerous on the break for Forest.
What’s next?
Nottingham Forest head to Brighton on Sunday, March 10. Liverpool head to Sparta Prague for their Europa League last 16 first leg on Thursday, then host Manchester City on Sunday in a huge game in the title race.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool final score: 0-1
Nunez 99'
Full time: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool
What a win for Liverpool. It feels like destiny is driving them on.
Darwin Nunez wins it in the 99th minute! - Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool
Absolutely incredible stuff as Alexis Mac Allister dinks in a lovely cross for Nunez and he heads home to send the away fans absolutely wild. Liverpool snatch victory in the 99th minute.
End to end late on
Danns does really well for Liverpool but Forest somehow clear, then at the other end Konate blocks a shot and it deflects over for a Forest corner.
Diaz fires wide, while Nunez and Gakpo hit side-netting
Liverpool are knocking at the door with Diaz curling one wide. Nunez and Gakpo had both earlier slammed into the side-netting from tight angles. Szoboszlai is now on for Elliott. Liverpool pushing hard.
Elanga so close for Forest!
What a break from Forest and Elanga is found as the spare man at the back post and he swivels his body well but his shot flies just wide.
Endo and Nunez are on for Liverpool
More experience on the pitch for Liverpool as Nunez is on for Clark, while Endo comes on for Robertson with Gomez going to left back.
Half time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Liverpool
Plenty of the ball for Liverpool but Forest have been in this and Kelleher has been forced into one fine stop. Very tight encounter at the City Ground.
Diaz denied by Murillo’s challenge
Lovely play down the right as Bobby Clark’s shot finds its way to Luis Diaz six yards out but his shot is brilliantly blocked by Murillo.
Big save from Kelleher
What a fantastic stop that is from Kelleher. A ball over the top from Origi finds Elanga and he is clean through but Kelleher makes himself big, just like Alisson usually does, and rushes off his line to block the shot superbly. What a goalkeeper Kelleher is.
Very close from Origi
Former Liverpool striker Divock Origi surges forward and cuts inside before smashing a shot just wide of Kelleher’s post. Good chance for Forest.
Big news for Liverpool is that Endo, Nunez and Szoboszlai are all fit and on the bench. Salah remains out but that Liverpool squad is looking a lot stronger as their injury issues have calmed down a little. Forest have made plenty of changes after their defeat at Villa last weekend but USMNT star Gio Reyna isn’t even on the bench.
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels; Williams, Omobamidele, Murillo, Toffolo; Elanga, Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Yates, Hudson-Odoi; Origi
Liverpool lineup
Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gomez, Clark; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz
Nottingham Forest focus, team news
Forest have both Morgan Gibbs-White and ex-Reds prospect Taiwo Awoniyi available, and that gives them a chance in any game.
OUT: Chris Wood (thigh), Nuno Tavares (undisclosed), Ola Aina (unidsclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Ibrahima Sangare (undisclosed), Willy Boly (unidsclosed)
Liverpool focus, team news
The Reds made it through the League Cup Final and an FA Cup match by using a young group, but will be hoping that Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, Dominik Szobozslai, and Wataru Endo have an easy week and can be available to play Saturday.
OUT: Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee), Diogo Jota (knee - out months), Alisson (thigh injury), Curtis Jones (ankle), Joel Matip (torn ACL - out for season), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Mohamed Salah (thigh), Dominik Szoboszlai (thigh), Wataru Endo (ankle)