Alexis Mac Allister emerged as Liverpool’s hero with a stunning late strike that secured a dramatic 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The Argentine midfielder found the net deep into stoppage time, breaking Forest hearts and handing Liverpool F.C. three priceless points in their pursuit of a top-four finish.
Mac Allister’s decisive moment came after a frustrating evening in which he had already celebrated once, only for his earlier effort to be disallowed following a VAR intervention. That setback, however, did little to deter him. As the clock ticked past 90 minutes and the game appeared destined for a stalemate, he stepped up in the seventh minute of added time to finally beat Forest’s resistance and spark jubilant scenes among the travelling supporters.
The home side began the contest with aggression and purpose, nearly taking the lead within the opening five minutes. Callum Hudson-Odoi broke through Liverpool’s defensive line with a burst of pace, but Alisson Becker reacted superbly to deny him from close range. It was an early warning sign for Liverpool, who found themselves under sustained pressure during the opening exchanges.
Forest’s midfield pairing of Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson dictated the tempo, combining energy with composure to unsettle the visitors. Meanwhile, the team managed by Arne Slot struggled to establish rhythm, often appearing rushed and uncomfortable against Forest’s high pressing approach.
Defensively, Liverpool were forced into moments of desperation. Virgil van Dijk produced a vital recovery tackle to prevent Igor Jesus from capitalizing on a dangerous situation, while Murillo tried his luck from distance, testing Alisson’s alertness once again.
The visitors also had to cope with a pre-match setback after losing Florian Wirtz during the warm-up, which further disrupted their preparations and seemed to affect their early cohesion.
Following the interval, the encounter became more open and evenly contested. Liverpool gradually improved, carving out clearer opportunities. Curtis Jones nearly broke the deadlock from close range after Mohamed Salah cleverly nodded the ball across the face of goal. However, Forest goalkeeper Stefan Ortega reacted sharply to keep the effort out and preserve parity.
Despite Forest’s resilience and disciplined display, their resistance was finally undone in the dying moments.
Mac Allister’s composure and determination ultimately proved decisive, ensuring Liverpool left Nottingham with all three points and renewed confidence in their push for Champions League qualification.
