Jota rises to hold off Nottingham Forest after Wood gives Liverpool an early scare | Premier League

Just when it looked like nothing was falling for Liverpool in a gripping game, Arne Slot turned to his substitutes’ bench midway through the second half and displayed his seemingly golden touch. Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota came on, the former teeing up the latter at a corner to equalize courtesy of their first touches. It was Liverpool’s first shot on target and the first goal Nottingham Forest had conceded in more than 500 minutes of action.

For Skov, this is simply a trip that supporters do not want to step off. This was another resounding display under Nuno Espírito Santo, another impressive step in an extraordinary season, and a point lifts them into second place, six points behind the pacesetters, who also have a game in hand. On this evidence, we might be in for a title race, especially with both Chelsea and Manchester City dropping more points.

Nuno insisted that the make-up of these teams had changed in the five months that have passed since his side handed Liverpool their only league defeat of the season, the Portuguese finding it difficult to say that the parameters were completely different here that this was a completely different test. But from the moment Nuno arrived at the City Ground, wearing a rucksack as if reporting for a 9-5 office job, this was the same old Forest: determined, rigid in set-up and devastating on the counter-attack. The bass of Born Slippy, a regular pre-match anthem, reverberated around this bouncy stadium and the obvious feel-good factor was overload. By then, Evangelos Marinakis, the owner, had already wandered around the pitch to survey the scene. Early Ryan Yates returned the captain to the starting line-up, having joined the club at the age of eight, and got in the face of Virgil van Dijk, who was close to halfway.

Liverpool finished the first half with nine shots, most speculated outside the Forest box, composed impeccably by Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo, a superb partnership in defence. Cody Gakpo had Liverpool’s first effort, rounding Yates and then blasting over, off balance. Ryan Gravenberch twice managed a wild swing and a miss. Forest was on the back foot, but comfortable. Under Nuno they thrive on seizing moments, punishing lapses and when Callum Hudson-Odoi, who scored the winner at Anfield in September, got the ball from Mohamed Salah, the visitors were in trouble. Hudson-Odoi flicked a pass into Anthony Elanga, who released Chris Wood down the left channel.

Forest opened Liverpool up with two crisp passes and Wood’s first-time finish across goal gave Alisson no chance. It was a fine Forest goal, Wood’s 14th of the season. Listen to the ecstasy in the stands, Forest fans of all ages in disbelief. Nuno was expressionless with his arms folded.

Just over a minute later, Murillo intercepted a loose Gravenberch pass and fired a shot at goal from 30 yards. Even Nuno allowed himself a wry smile. Forest were in spirits but Liverpool, to their credit, were not worn down. At the same time, things did not come off. Slot applauded after Trent Alexander-Arnold overcooked a diagonal pass intended for Gakpo. Luis Díaz tipped over from distance. Andy Robertson played a blind pass that bounced out of play for a Matz Sels goal kick. Dominik Szoboszlai clapped his hands in frustration. Forest forced Liverpool into mistakes, Ola Aina chasing down Robertson to spoil a routine pass. Neco Williams prevented Salah from latching on to another clipped Alexander-Arnold pass. When Szoboszlai handled Morgan Gibbs-White on halfway, it was the latter who was penalized after questioning referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision not to caution the Liverpool midfielder.

The second half was shaping up to be a similar story for Liverpool until Slot made his double substitution which proved nothing short of magical. A few minutes earlier, Gravenberch had screwed Díaz through on the edge of the box, but he failed to connect. Colombia’s striker grimaced and a pained Slot arched his back.

Forest were enjoying themselves so Murillo attempted an audacious lobbed shot after bursting into the opposition half after beating Salah and Gravenberch to the ball. There were a few beerones after Forest played neat triangles around Alexander-Arnold before Alexis Mac Allister chopped down Gibbs-White. From the ensuing free kick, Elanga rattled a laced effort at Alisson on the hour mark. It was another shot on target, something that eluded Liverpool.

Robertson endured a difficult night, highlighted by slim clearances and wayward passes, and it was no surprise that he was one half of the pair withdrawn by Slot after 65 minutes. Nobody, not even the Dutchman, could have hoped that Robertson’s replacement would make such an immediate impact. The same was true of Jota, who replaced centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, a clear indication that Slot was in no mood to mess around. Tsimikas’ left-footed corner curled into the box and Jota got between Wood and Murillo to flick a header past Sels, who had another magnificent display.

Aina cleared a Salah shot off the line with 88 minutes on the clock and Szoboszlai saw a low effort denied, but Sels arguably left the pitch as Forest’s hero, saving low from Gakpo in seven minutes of busy stoppage time.