Liverpool Sees Late Victory Over Nottingham Forest Could Signal Luck Turning In Premier League

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Liverpool claimed a dramatic 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest as Alexis Mac Allister struck in the 97th minute, yet Arne Slot admitted a draw might have been fair. The result strengthened Liverpool's push for a Champions League place, but the performance left clear concerns, especially after a poor first half at the City Ground.

Mac Allister had already seen one effort ruled out on 89 minutes before converting deep into stoppage time. The 96:10 strike was Liverpool's fourth-latest Premier League winner on record since 2006-07, and their second such goal away to Forest after Darwin Nunez scored at 98:37 in March 2024. It was also Liverpool's 48th winning goal scored in or after the 90th minute in Premier League matches, at least 12 more than any other club.

The victory arrived despite Slot accepting that Forest did enough to deserve a share of the points. Liverpool managed only two off-target attempts before half-time, while Forest recorded 12 efforts and looked sharper in most duels. Three of Liverpool's four shots on target came from the 89th minute onwards, underlining how late the visitors finally applied serious pressure.

"If you score in the last minute, there's always an element of luck, but so many times this season, we've experienced the opposite," Slot told Sky Sports. "A draw would have been a fairer result than a win for us. If we rely on one player, then things are not good, but that is not the case. Someone else has to do the job. The first half was difficult because Forest played well, and they have good players. I wanted more control over their midfield. I highlighted how well they played, but we lost every ball. The only part of the game was defending inside the box. We had to defend a lot of set pieces. We stayed in the game. We took over the game in the second half, maybe because they played on Thursday. We scored twice, and I would not have been shocked if both goals were ruled out, but maybe our luck is turning."

Forest's display before the break gave Liverpool significant problems, particularly from set pieces. Slot's team struggled to clear their lines and rarely controlled midfield areas as Forest pushed them back. Liverpool's main success in that period came from defending inside the penalty area, where last-ditch clearances and blocks prevented a breakthrough for the home side.

After the interval, Liverpool gradually gained more control of possession and territory, which Slot partly linked to Forest playing on Thursday. The visitors started to press higher and force errors, while limiting Forest's attacks. Liverpool stayed within reach despite their earlier issues, which allowed late goalscoring chances and eventually delivered three valuable points in the closing stages.

Liverpool late win and team selection

Slot had to alter his starting side shortly before kick-off when Florian Wirtz dropped out of the XI. Curtis Jones replaced Wirtz after staff ruled Wirtz unfit during the warm-up. "We tried it in the warm-up, and he wasn't able to play," Slot added of Wirtz's issue. "The good thing is there is a week to go until the next game."

Liverpool late win and Mac Allister verdict

For Mac Allister, the late strike carried extra meaning. The midfielder scored his first Premier League goal since April 2025 against Tottenham, ending a sequence of 27 league appearances without scoring. The decisive effort was also Liverpool's third Premier League goal this season scored in or after the 90th minute, the highest such total by any team in the division.

Mac Allister had endured a long wait for the winner because both Liverpool goals on the day needed VAR checks. His first attempt was ruled out after the ball crossed the line via his elbow, while the second stood only after officials confirmed Virgil van Dijk was onside in the build-up. The sequence underlined how narrow the margins were for Liverpool at the City Ground.

"It hit my back and my elbow," Mac Allister told BBC Sport of his disallowed goal. "I understand the rule, but if you understand football, that goal should have stood. I told Hugo [Ekitike]it [the second] would be a goal, and one or two minutes later, it was. I'm very glad it was me. It doesn't feel nice in the moment, but it is what it is. VAR is a good tool if you look at the mistakes the referees used to make. We need to waste these seconds or minutes because it's best for football. The first half wasn't good at all; positioning, pressing, intensity. It was not our standard. The second half, I wouldn't say it was good, but it was better. We knew it would be a tough game because they are good at set pieces, and they have really good players. It's always tough to come here."

The match therefore combined Liverpool's familiar late-goal habit with another uneven performance, offering both encouragement and warning for Slot. The win keeps Liverpool firmly in contention for a Champions League place, yet the struggle against Forest's pressure and set pieces showed clear areas that still require improvement before the next league test.