Nottm Forest Vs Liverpool: Mac Allister’s 97th-Minute 'Heist' Boosts Champions League Hopes
Alexis Mac Allister's 97th-minute strike secured a 1-0 victory in Nottm Forest Vs Liverpool, a result described as a 'heist' that has strengthened Arne Slot's side's position in the Champions League hunt. The late drama left Vítor Pereira saying he was "angry with football" and generated fierce debate about whether Forest had been unjustly denied a point.
Nottm Forest Vs Liverpool: How the 97th-minute winner unfolded
The decisive sequence began with a stoppage-time burst of action. Earlier, a Hugo Ekitike header had been pushed away by Stefan Ortega before a clearance by Ola Aina struck Alexis Mac Allister and went in, only for the goal to be ruled out for handball after a VAR intervention. The intervention, overseen by referee Paul Tierney, added at least five minutes to stoppage time. Liverpool then re-set: Joe Gomez, a late substitute, redirected a long throw to Dominik Szoboszlai, who beat Nicolás Domínguez about 30 yards out and delivered a right-footed cross. Virgil van Dijk headed across goal, a defensive touch by Murillo sent the ball away from his own goal, and Mac Allister was on hand to hammer home from close range. A subsequent VAR check cleared Van Dijk of offside and the goal stood.
VAR drama and the disallowed goal
The disallowed strike involving Ola Aina, Mac Allister and Stefan Ortega was pivotal. The ball's contact with Mac Allister's arm — described as tight to his body — led officials to chalk the effort off, prompting immediate debate. Mac Allister himself said the ball hit his back and his elbow and accepted the rule, while maintaining that, in footballing terms, the original effort should have counted. The extended stoppage time that followed proved decisive.
Reactions: Slot, Vítor Pereira, van Dijk and Carragher
Vítor Pereira was left numb and "angry with football" after what he felt was an undeserved defeat, reflecting a sense that Forest had been superior for large parts of the match. Arne Slot acknowledged mixed emotions: relief and happiness, but also that his team "did not play a good game" and had been fortunate. Slot said a draw would have been a fairer result and that his side had "got more than we deserved. "
Virgil van Dijk framed the win as part of a longer process: "It's a process, we need to keep going, " he said, praising the reaction after a poor first half and highlighting the need for continued improvement. Van Dijk noted the team had to be braver on the ball, win their battles and make the right decisions; he also referenced the importance of long throws from Joey Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai's quality delivery that created the chance for Mac Allister. One commentator called it "one of the biggest robberies" seen in the competition this season, underlining how controversial the outcome felt to many.
Match context: momentum, fatigue and fine margins
Forest entered the game fresh on confidence after a memorable 3-0 win in midweek and named an unchanged team despite returning from Turkey late. Liverpool, by contrast, had last played eight days earlier. For long stretches Forest dominated; home fans chanted "In your head, Arne, Arne, Arne" to the tune of a well-known song as Pereira's side pressed the defending champions. After the winner, the same chant could be heard from the travelling support, stunned by the late twist. The pitchside visuals included Neco Williams lying on the turf as Liverpool celebrated and the away dugout spilling into the technical area.
Implications and what comes next
The 1-0 victory not only ended a run in which Slot had previously failed to beat Forest in three attempts as Liverpool boss, it also moved Liverpool level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for the top-four places. Chelsea had stumbled to a draw with Burnley and Manchester United were due to visit Everton on Monday, details that underline how tight the standings remain. Liverpool also stretched a sequence to three consecutive victories and clean sheets. Van Dijk urged focus on the next challenge, noting another difficult fixture at the weekend against West Ham United.
Uncertainty remains around debate over the disallowed goal and the late intervention that decided the match; those details may continue to be discussed. The immediate impact is clear: Mac Allister's last-gasp finish has kept Slot's side right in the mix for their European objective while leaving Vítor Pereira and Forest to rue fine margins in his first league game in charge.
