Liverpool’s perfect record remained intact, but only just. Iker Muñoz’s late intervention proved decisive once again as the Reds edged past Nottingham Forest, extending their winning streak while Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola’s side was left to rue another opportunity that slipped away in the closing stages.
Andoni Iraola is still searching for his first win as Liverpool manager, according to ESPN, after Nottingham Forest twice led at Anfield and left with a 2-2 draw on Saturday. Alexander Isak pulled Liverpool level on the hour, only for Morgan Gibbs-White to restore Forest’s advantage from the penalty spot at 70 minutes. Víctor Muñoz then headed off the inevitable disappointment with a goal eight minutes later, but Liverpool’s inability to hold the ball in the final third ultimately cost them all three points against Oliver Glasner’s resolute visitors.
Key Moments
- 24′, Forest break the deadlock. Ndoye finishes after a pass from Gibbs-White to give the visitors a surprise lead against the run of play.
- 32′, Liverpool think they have leveled through Florian Wirtz, but VAR cancels the goal, keeping Forest’s one-goal lead intact.
- 60′, Isak equalizes for Liverpool, converting a pass from Gakpo to make it 1-1 and shift the momentum firmly toward the home side.
- 70′, Gibbs-White converts from the penalty spot to restore Forest’s lead at 2-1, a decision that a Sky pundit labeled ‘harsh’ after the match.
- 82′, Víctor Muñoz levels for Liverpool again, converting an assist from Florian Wirtz to make it 2-2 and deny Forest what would have been a memorable away win.
Tactical Breakdown
Liverpool controlled the game in nearly every statistical category. They held 69 percent of possession, completed 556 of 626 passes, and registered 13 total shots to Forest’s 12. Yet the numbers that matter most told a different story: only four of those efforts were on target, and Matz Sels was rarely tested in a sustained way. Liverpool’s volume of play did not translate into clean chances, and their xG profile would have reflected a team that struggled to carve through a disciplined low block.
The turning point tactically came in the 70th minute when Andoni Iraola responded to the penalty concession by sending on three substitutes at once, replacing Gakpo, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong. The triple change altered Liverpool’s shape and gave them more width and physicality in the final quarter. Víctor Muñoz, who had earlier picked up a yellow card for dissent, channeled his frustration productively, arriving late into the box to convert Florian Wirtz’s assist and salvage a point.
For Forest, the plan was clear from kickoff: stay compact in a 3-4-2-1, concede possession, and threaten on the break. It worked better than Glasner could reasonably have hoped. Ndoye’s early goal rewarded the approach, and Gibbs-White’s penalty gave them a second lead. Where Forest were undone was in their inability to see out the game after taking the lead twice. With 31 percent possession and 280 passes, they were always exposed to sustained late pressure, and Liverpool’s numerical changes eventually found the gap.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
Liverpool sit tenth in the Premier League table with two points from two matches, their winless start under Iraola a conversation that will only grow louder if it extends into next weekend. Forest, meanwhile, pick up a point on the road that keeps them at 12th, recovering some confidence after a first-match defeat. The result changes little in the standings but signals that Glasner’s team will be difficult to beat on the counter this season.