Nottm Forest Vs Liverpool — Mac Allister’s last-gasp 'heist' keeps Reds in top-four chase

In a dramatic finish at the City Ground, Alexis Mac Allister struck in the 97th minute to give Liverpool a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in a match widely described as a late 'heist'. The result matters now because it left Liverpool level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United and extended a run of three victories and clean sheets in a row for Arne Slot’s side.

Mac Allister had two late interventions, one disallowed and one decisive

Alexis Mac Allister was central to the ending, first seeing a goal chalked off after the ball was deemed to have hit his elbow, then seizing a loose ball in the six-yard box to score in the 97th minute. He said the ball “hit my back and my elbow” and that he understood the rule but felt that the earlier goal should have stood. Stefan Ortega had earlier made a strong save to deny Hugo Ekitike, and Ola Aina’s attempted clearance struck Mac Allister before the disallowed effort.

How the final sequence unfolded in stoppage time in nottm forest vs liverpool

With the game deep into added time, Joe Gomez appeared to be lining up a long throw but found Dominik Szoboszlai instead. Szoboszlai beat Nicolás Domínguez around 30 yards out and delivered a right-footed cross; Virgil van Dijk headed across goal, Murillo hooked the ball away under pressure, and Mac Allister was on hand to hammer home from close range. A video assistant referee intervention by Paul Tierney had earlier extended the at least five minutes of added time, and a subsequent VAR check cleared van Dijk for offside before the final celebration.

Forest dominated large spells and Vítor Pereira was left furious

For long stretches Nottingham Forest controlled the game and their head coach, Vítor Pereira, said he was "angry with football" after the defeat, insisting Forest did not deserve to lose. Pereira had named an unchanged side despite his team returning from a midweek 3-0 win at Fenerbahçe and not getting back until Friday afternoon. The match saw home fans chanting "In your head, Arne, Arne, Arne" to the tune of Zombie, and after the final whistle Neco Williams lay on the turf as Forest were described as floored.

Slot and Liverpool voices: relief, process and resilience

Arne Slot admitted mixed emotions, saying his feelings were those of happiness and relief and that he had to handle a different post-match press conference. Slot conceded Liverpool did not play a good game and that they had “got more than we deserved, ” adding that a draw would have been a fair result. Virgil van Dijk urged continuity, saying "it's a process, we need to keep going, " and called for players to find their highest level. Van Dijk acknowledged a poor first half, praised the second-half reaction, highlighted Hugo Ekitike’s big chance that should have been scored, and credited long throws and a quality ball from Szoboszlai in the build-up to the winner.

Table implications and reaction from former players and the away fans

The late victory moved Liverpool level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United, with Chelsea having stumbled to a draw with Burnley and Manchester United due to visit Everton on Monday. Jamie Carragher described the result as "one of the biggest robberies I've seen in the Premier League this season. " Travelling Liverpool supporters, who had earlier sung the same chant that home fans used, poured into the away end in disbelief as the visiting dugout emptied and Liverpool players celebrated a dramatic finish.