Nottm Forest Vs Liverpool: Mac Allister’s 97th-minute 'heist' boosts top-four hopes

Alexis Mac Allister buried a close-range winner in the 97th minute at the City Ground as Liverpool edged Nottingham Forest 1-0 in a finish described by some as a "heist, " a victory that moved Arne Slot's side level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United and sharpened their chase for the Champions League places. Nottm Forest Vs Liverpool swung on two late VAR checks and a frantic final sequence.

Late drama at the City Ground — how the winning goal arrived

The decisive moment came as stoppage time ticked into the 97th minute. Joe Gomez, a late substitute, looked set to throw long into the box but instead found Dominik Szoboszlai infield. Szoboszlai beat Nicolás Domínguez about 30 yards from goal, jinked to create an angle and crossed with his right foot. Virgil van Dijk headed the ball across goal, Murillo hooked it away under pressure, and Alexis Mac Allister hammered the loose ball in from close range.

VAR checks, a disallowed goal and Paul Tierney's intervention

Mac Allister had already celebrated what would have been a bizarre winner moments earlier when Stefan Ortega palmed away Hugo Ekitiké’s header from Rio Ngumoha’s dinked cross. Ola Aina’s attempted clearance struck Mac Allister and flew into the net, but the goal was ruled out for handball. The video assistant referee, Paul Tierney, intervened and extended the game by at least five minutes, and a later VAR check cleared Virgil van Dijk for offside on the match-winner.

Forest reaction and the atmosphere in the stands

Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira said he was "angry with football" after the defeat in his first league game in charge, calling the outcome a harsh one. Home fans had spent large parts of the afternoon chanting "In your head, Arne, Arne, Arne" to the tune of Zombie by The Cranberries as Pereira's side dominated; that same chant briefly came from the travelling Liverpool support when the win was sealed. Neco Williams was left on the turf as Liverpool celebrated and the away dugout emptied into the technical area.

How both managers and players summed up the match

Arne Slot admitted his side "did not play a good game, " saying his emotions were "happiness and relief" and that Liverpool "got more than we deserved, " calling a draw the fair result. Slot noted this was the first time he had to hold a different post-match press conference and reflected that a draw would have suited the balance of the contest. Vítor Pereira was left numb as his team, fresh from a 3-0 midweek win at Fenerbahçe and named unchanged despite not returning from Turkey until Friday afternoon, were unable to see out the game.

Captain's take and what the win means on the run

Virgil van Dijk said Liverpool must "keep going" to find their highest level after a win that made it three victories and clean sheets in a row. He acknowledged a "very poor first half" from Liverpool but praised the second-half reaction, the defensive resolve and set-piece threats from Forest. Van Dijk noted the importance of long throws from Joey Gomez and credited Dominik Szoboszlai's ball for creating the angle that allowed Mac Allister to finish: "Macca just had to finish it off, so happy days. " Mac Allister himself said, "It hit my back and my elbow. I understand the rule but if you understand football, that goal should have stood, " and admitted the first half was below standard while the second was better.

What the result changes on the table and the immediate fixture list

The victory moved Liverpool level on points with Chelsea, who stumbled to a draw against Burnley, and Manchester United, who visit Everton on Monday, tightening the battle around fourth place. Commentators called the outcome contentious — Jamie Carragher described it as "one of the biggest robberies I've seen in the Premier League this season" — while Slot said his players needed to be on the right side of luck for once. Van Dijk warned it was "another difficult one at the weekend again" versus West Ham United, and Liverpool now turn their attention to that next match as the club tries to build on a run of three straight wins and clean sheets.