It’s not laborious to lose depend of the quantity of instances this season that Arne Slot has trudged into his post-match press convention and bemoaned his aspect taking part in properly solely to drop factors.
This time, the shoe was on the opposite foot. Liverpool have been sloppy, uninspiring and susceptible for many of this journey to the Metropolis Floor – however they received. A fantastic theft within the parish of Robin Hood.
We are going to get on to the efficiency in a minute, as a result of whatever the ultimate outcome it needs to be mentioned this was worrying – however how seismic may these three factors be?
Almost two years to the day that Darwin Nunez scored a 99th-minute winner in an equally-congested penalty space in entrance of the Bridgford Finish right here, it was one other South American who got here up with the magic second – not as soon as however twice.
Match-winner Alexis Mac Allister, although, was trustworthy in his post-match reflections when he mentioned: ‘I like scoring, I like successful, however I do not assume we performed very properly.’
Again then, the last-minute win right here didn’t show to be the beginning of one thing particular. Actually, the Reds dropped factors in 5 of their 10 video games thereafter as a title problem crumbled.
Alexis Mac Allister was overjoyed at scoring Liverpool’s winner towards Nottingham Forest – however was conscious that his aspect did not play properly
It’s a contract to Arne Slot’s common claims that his aspect play properly however drop factors – right here, they performed badly however received
It’s now a top-four battle as an alternative of a title tilt however the identical sentiment stays: Liverpool should use this dramatic, undeserved victory as a springboard. This was their third win a row with out conceding so what’s stopping them from occurring a run of victories now?
Rotten first halves may hang-out Reds
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It was not till the 54th minute that Liverpool registered their first shot heading in the right direction, the eighth time this season that the Reds haven’t examined a goalkeeper within the opening 45 minutes.
That’s not adequate. A greater striker than Igor Jesus, with all due respect, would have punished Liverpool right here. Think about Chris Wooden in his type of final season, for instance.
The 12 photographs Liverpool confronted earlier than the break was essentially the most in any first-half of a Premier League since a 6-1 thrashing at Stoke Metropolis in 2015.
This was a dreadful first-half and Slot advised his group as a lot at half-time. ‘The primary-half was actually poor, the worst we’ve performed till now I feel however the second-half was significantly better,’ he mentioned, which is bang on.
They did enhance after the break however, nonetheless, one thought that Forest would and may have left with some extent on the very least.
Sunday was the eighth time this season that Liverpool haven’t had a shot heading in the right direction within the first 45 minutes of a sport
Time for Rio to start out a league sport
Rio Ngumoha got here off the bench with Liverpool needing a particular second and he made one. Mac Allister’s first purpose, although later disallowed, all got here from the 17-year-old.
The previous Chelsea lad would play extra if not for his tender age. Slot is eager to not ask an excessive amount of, too quickly and pay the value with Ngumoha not being prepared bodily.
However certainly it’s now time for Ngumoha to get his first Premier League begin?
It’s laborious to reward the teenager with out it wanting like criticism of the opposite wingers, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah. Neither of them, in current months at the least, have been at their greatest.
Gakpo has scored two league objectives this aspect of mid-October, whereas Salah final netted on this competitors on November 1.
Nobody is saying that Ngumoha is abruptly going to bang in 10 objectives between now and the tip of the season however he provides one thing totally different. He makes defenders panic and retreat.
‘He has unbelievable potential, in any other case, at 17 years of age, you do not play as many minutes as he does within the Premier League, not to mention at Liverpool… I do not assume there’s some other 17-year-old who has performed as many minutes within the Premier League as he has,’ mentioned Slot.
He has some extent. When it comes to his total journey, Ngumoha is properly forward of the curve. It’s comprehensible why they’re going straightforward on him and never asking an excessive amount of. However based mostly on a number of cameos thus far in 2026, the proof suggests he deserves to play extra.
It is time for Rio Ngumoha (proper), who was electrical when he got here off the bench, to start out a Premier League sport
Florian Wirtz is predicted to be match for subsequent week after choosing up an damage within the warm-up
Slot anticipating Wirtz again subsequent week
There was a void of creativity for the Premier League champions and the explanation why was apparent: Florian Wirtz pulled out injured within the build-up.
The German has an issue together with his again – there are apparent jokes to be made about how carrying the group for the final month have to be weighing him down.
It’s not regarded as severe, although, and Wirtz ought to return for the house fixture towards West Ham on Saturday.
Slot mentioned: ‘We do not assume it is rather severe. He felt his again an excessive amount of through the warm-up to start out. He wasn’t in a position to be 100 per cent or near 100 per cent.
‘I feel after being on this league for six, seven or eight months that regardless of how good you’re on the ball, you should be 100 per cent at this stage. So we determined to not play him however hope and anticipate him to be with us subsequent week.’
Psychological resilience is a optimistic
Liverpool would have misplaced this sport two months in the past. On the very least, they might have drawn it. Repeatedly this season, their mentality has been questioned.
Whether or not that’s proper or improper, there isn’t a doubt they’ve struggled within the later phases of video games this time period.
After the primary Mac Allister purpose was disallowed, the momentum swung again in Forest’s favour. The group was up, the Metropolis Floor roaring their group on.
However Liverpool stood tall. Not solely that, they settled, calmed themselves after the potential frustration at seeing a purpose chalked off, and went once more.
There weren’t too many positives to take however the psychological resilience is a large plus level for Liverpool. Now they need to construct on it.
