Liverpool fall short against Forest again in the Premier League as Man City’s fallibility returns

On By Littum

Liverpool will be delighted to see the back of Nottingham Forest.

Two games against the big surprise of the Premier League season have yielded just one point for the leaders after their 1-1 draw at Forest’s rocking City Ground on Tuesday.

Liverpool have lost just once in 20 games so far this campaign – and that was 1-0 at home to Forest in September.

Four months later, Diogo Jota headed home from a corner in the 66th minute – just 22 seconds after coming on as a substitute – to earn Liverpool a draw that maintained their six-point cushion over Forest, who moved into second place in its unlikely bid to qualify for the Champions League. And who knows, maybe more.

Forest were on course to record an unlikely home-and-away double over Arne Slot’s side after top scorer Chris Wood netted in the eighth minute.

Liverpool mounted the pressure late on but again failed to beat Forest, who started the season more likely to be in a relegation battle than competing for the title.

“Before the season we had to get to 40 points as quickly as possible,” said Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels, referring to the total that is typically enough to guarantee safety. “With 17 games left, we have 41, so we can look a little higher.”

Forest fans booed at times at the Castle in a feverish atmosphere at the City Ground that has not been so exuberant for a generation. The good times seem to be back at a club that were famously back-to-back European champions under great manager Brian Clough, in 1979 and ’80.

Liverpool have a game in hand over Forest so they are still in a strong position to win a record 20th English league title. Arsenal are third, a further point back, and can close the gap on Liverpool to four points by beating Tottenham in the north London derby on Wednesday.

“If we continue to deliver performances like in the second half today,” Slot said, “then we won’t always be unlucky enough to end up with a draw.”

The fallibility of the city returns

Manchester City showed more fallibility in the late game as they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Brentford.

City conceded in the 82nd minute and again two minutes into stoppage time after Phil Foden scored twice for the struggling champions, who are fighting just to qualify for the Champions League this season.

Prior to winning their last two league games against Leicester and West Ham, City had won just one of nine to drop out of the Champions League qualification positions. During that poor run, City conceded two late goals to lose to Manchester United, while they also blew a three-goal lead late on in a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League.

“We need to manage (matches) a bit better,” said City manager Pep Guardiola, “but today was not bad.”

Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard were the goalscorers as Brentford left City in sixth place.

Last gasp equalizer for Chelsea

Chelsea salvaged a 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth thanks to Reece James’ free-kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but saw their winless run in the league extend to five games.

Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead with a cheeky finish in the 13th minute for his 14th goal of the season, only for Bournemouth to respond as Antoine Semenyo won a penalty – converted by Justin Kluivert – and smashed home a rising finish in the 68th.

Chelsea remained in fourth place – at least until fifth-placed Newcastle play on Wednesday.

Potter’s first victory

Graham Potter secured his first win as West Ham manager as his new side beat Fulham 3-2.

Carlos Soler and Tomas Soucek scored in the first half before Lucas Paqueta grabbed the decisive third for West Ham, who signed Potter last week as a replacement for the sacked Julen Lopetegui.

Potter’s first game was an FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa on Friday.

Alex Iwobi scored Fulham’s goal to make it 2-1 and then 3-2.

West Ham moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone with the win.

Orient set to City in the FA Cup

Third-tier Leyton Orient set up a fourth-round clash with Man City in the FA Cup next month by beating second-tier Derby 6-5 on penalties.

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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

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