Darwin Nunez late strike helps Liverpool beat Awoniyi's Nottingham Forest

Liverpool handed Forest another narrow defeat at home.

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Liverpool s Darwin Nunez celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the ninth minute of injury time during the FA Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Darwin Nunez late strike helps Liverpool beat Awoniyi's Nottingham Forest

Faruq Ibrahim 18:48 - 02.03.2024

Darwin Nunez's late header keeps Liverpool top of the Premier League.

Liverpool maintained their lead at the top of the Premier League log thanks to a late Darwin Nunez goal that helped them beat Nottingham Forest.

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The Reds were the first of the three in the title race to play, as they took a trip to the City Ground to face the Tricky Trees.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side were a tough opposition, and came close to nicking a point off the visitors, but Darwin Nunez rose highest in the 98th minute to hand Liverpool maximum points.

How it happened

Liverpool are facing an injury crisis with the absences of Trent Alexander Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Jota, Matip, Allison, Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Thiago, with Darwin Nunez only managing to make the bench due to his fitness.

Jurgen Klopp was forced to name a watered-down eleven, starting youngsters Bobby Clark and Conor Bradley and fixing Joe Gomez in midfield. 

Little wonder Liverpool had a timid start to the game, with the hosts threatening to go ahead in the opening exchanges, but the visitors soon found a foothold in the game and started to dominate as expected. 

Forest had periods in the first half in which they carried threats, with Super Eagles striker Awoniyi finding himself in good positions a few times, but they failed to do anything telling. 

The second-half mirrored the first, with the exception of the late goal. The hosts came out guns blazing, but Liverpool wrestled control and steered the game, as they did in the opening 45. 

Both teams had decent chances to score the first goal in the game but were missing them as they came. 

With the game headed for a draw, Liverpool thought they were handed respite when VAR investigated a penalty in stoppage time, but the technology found no infringement. 

Moments later, however, Darwin Nunez got on the end of Alexis Macalister’s delivery and headed past Mats Selz to send the away end ruckus. 

With the win, the Reds opened a four-point gap on Manchester City, and five on Arsenal and they moved a step closer to a fairytale ending to Klopp’s Liverpool story. 

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