Darwin Nunez scored Liverpool’s latest winner on record in the Premier League to earn the leaders a dramatic 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool were set to drop two crucial points in the title race but in the ninth minute of stoppage time, Alexis Mac Allister sent in a superb cross that Nunez flicked in to send his team four points clear at the top of the table.
How the match unfolded
Nuno Espirito Santo made three changes for Forest as Andrew Omobamidele, Ryan Yates and former Liverpool striker Divock Origi came in.
It was also a trio of changes for the Reds from their last Premier League match – the victory over Luton. Jarrell Quansah, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch were replaced by Bobby Clark, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson.
After a slow start, Origi nearly opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a thunderous left-footed strike from range that just went wide.
Forest had an even better chance to take the lead eight minutes later when Anthony Elanga raced through on goal but was brilliantly denied by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Clark then narrowly shot over from the edge of the box before Murillo superbly blocked Luis Diaz’s goalbound shot.
Liverpool had a huge opportunity to take the lead five minutes into the second half when the ball broke to Robertson but Omobamidele produced a brilliant goalline block to divert his shot behind a post.
Forest then let Liverpool off the hook as Elanga missed a golden opportunity to put the hosts ahead as he shot wide of a post despite being unmarked.
Diaz then put an effort inches wide of the right post.
Matz Sels produced an outstanding reflex save in stoppage time after Nunez had flicked the ball on and Murillo diverted it towards his own goal.
But just as Forest through that they had rescued a point they lost it. Forest failed to clear a corner as they opted to dribble the ball out of danger but that proved fatal as Liverpool won the ball back.
Mac Allister sent it back into the box and Nunez got the vital touch to secure a first league win at the City Ground since October 1984 for Liverpool.
A fourth straight league win puts Liverpool on 63 points.
Forest will continue to look anxiously over their shoulders as they remain four points above 18th-place Luton Town, who have one matches in hand.
Club reports
Next Premier League fixtures
Key facts
Darwin Núñez’s goal, timed at 98 minutes and 35 seconds, was Liverpool’s latest winning goal in a Premier League game on record (2006/07 onwards).
Today was Liverpool’s first 1-0 win in the Premier League all season – it was their first 1-0 victory in the competition since May 2023 against Brentford.
For the first time in 10 Premier League games under Nuno Espírito Santo, Nottingham Forest failed to find the net. The last time they failed to score was in Steve Cooper’s final game in charge in December, a 2-0 loss at home to Spurs.
Darwin Núñez has been directly involved in nine goals in his last nine appearances in all competitions for Liverpool (six goals, three assists), netting in each of his last three.
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