After the Reds fight their way back and miss a host of chances en route to an away draw, we dig into some of the winners and losers on the night.
It started in the most predictable manner imaginable, with Liverpool dominating possession against a side utterly disinterested in pressing them, before Mohamed Salah pulled out of a 50/50 in midfield and Virgil van Dijk turned his back on the only runner into the box, as the Reds gave away the easiest goal you could draw up. Nuno Espirito Santo, you madman, you’ve done it again.
The Reds consistently found their way into dangerous positions between Nottingham Forest’s midfield and backline in the hour that followed, but were too imprecise with their final third possession, overhitting passes, snatching at shots and failing to make their good work count. Signs of a team that might be worn down, out of rhythm, holders of a draw and a loss in their last two games against Premier League opposition.
Then, a blast from the past, as a set piece goal set them on their way and the Reds began to turn the screw, pressing and harrying and creating chances one after another until a winner felt inevitable, like a highlight reel from 2019.
It didn’t bear out that way, not entirely, as the hosts managed to cling on for a draw in their worst home performance of the season, but it had that feeling to it. You know the one.
With all that said, then, we provide a quick word on the winners and losers on the night.
Winners
Subs: After a supremely frustrating opening hour, the Reds’ first two substitutes of the night wasted no time making a difference, as Kostas Tsimikas found Diogo Jota with a corner just 22 seconds after coming onto the pitch, and the Portuguese attacker nodded home from close range.
Quality in depth has been a recurring topic for Liverpool this season, as Arne Slot has leaned on his favoured starters whenever available, and much of the rotation in the XI has been the result of injuries or suspensions. That depth showed up tonight, though, and with only Joe Gomez unavailable through injury, the Reds have potential game changers on the bench every week, something that can prove immensely valuable as they chase down as many trophies as possible in the second half of the season.
The Finish: As soon as the equaliser crossed the goal line and Nottingham Forest came out of their shell ever so slightly, Liverpool began beating the doors down. The exuberance of the announcers might have you think the home side were benefiting from the game turning transitional, but in reality, Forest did not take a single shot after Jota scored, while their visitors generated 12 — more than they had managed in the previous hour — including a brace of big chances for Diogo Jota.
Matz Sels, the Belgian goalkeeper and current holder of the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season, did not make a single save before the equaliser, as the Reds failed to put their shots on target, but made five in the half hour that followed, and when he was beat, relied on Ola Aina to make a goal line clearance from a goalbound Mohamed Salah volley.
Simply put, based on the number of chances they created, this is a game Liverpool win just about every time out. It is a little frustrating that they didn’t, but it is A) better than the alternative of not creating those chances and B) better to have these kinds of results when one has a buffer at the top of the table rather than when one is part of the chasing pack trying to make up ground
Losers
Taking Advantage: Manchester City — not really in the title race — slipped up yet again tonight, conceding late twice to a Brentford comeback, while Chelsea — also not really in a title race — did the same, rescuing a point in injury time to Andoni Iraola’s surging Bournemouth. Arsenal, seemingly the only genuine title contender left, play the North London Derby tomorrow, and tonight would have been a lovely opportunity to steal a march on them and increase the gap at the top of the table, piling the pressure on a side that seem to tear itself apart at the mention of it.
An opportunity not taken, hopefully not one we will rue in four months’ time.
Ali: Since the Fulham game, Alisson Becker has conceded more goals than he has made saves, allowing ten balls to slip past him while stopping nine. Eight of those goals — tonight’s numbers aren’t ready and the Carbao Cup does not have these metrics on hand — have been conceded to a post-shot expected goals tally of five.
The best goalkeeper in the world for the last half decade has been less than that since returning from his most recent calf injury. Rediscovering his form in the run-in would be nice, is what we’re saying.
What Happens Next
The Reds travel to Brentford on Saturday, a side they have beaten in five of the last six meetings, before they host Lille in the Champions League — oh right that’s still going on — next Tuesday, in a bid to fortify their position at the top of the European table or, alternatively, rest some legs in what is a fairly inconsequential match.