In a game where set pieces ultimately decided the result, Liverpool beat struggling Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Anfield to boost their European hopes. Goals from Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White were not enough for Forest as two goals from Diogo Jota and a winning strike from Mohammed Salah got the three points for the side from Merseyside.
Jurgen Klopp named an unchanged team after his side ran rampant at Leeds United on Monday night winning 6-1. It was a totally different side from the Liverpool side that gifted Forest their second league win of the season in the reverse fixture with five different faces in the eleven. Steve Cooper made one change to his side that were defeated by Manchester United with Orel Mangala coming in for top scorer Brennan Johnson as Forest went to a three man midfield.
Liverpool almost took the lead on the 37 minute mark after a Trent Alexander Arnold free kick was met by Virgil Van Dijk and his header was brilliantly tipped over by keeper Keylor Navas. The on loan PSG man looking for another good performance after playing well against Manchester United despite the defeat.
Another set piece caused problems for the away side as it was Alexander Arnold delivered again and this time it was Konate who won it this time and his header was cleared off the line by former Liverpool man Williams to keep the score at 0-0.
That was it for the first half as both sides went into the dressing room level. Liverpool were causing Forest problems from set pieces and Forest did not know how to deal with them. For the away side it was a half to have positives about as most predicted a heavy defeat for Coopers side but they were doing well to hold off Klopp's men.
Early in the second half, those Liverpool set pieces finally paid off. Alexander-Arnold again sending it in and Fabinho headed across goal to Jota who headed home from close range. It was the perfect start for the hosts in the second half as they finally found a breakthrough against a resilient Forest.
The visitors then got what felt like an unexpected equaliser and it was through former Liverpool man Williams. Gibbs-White sent the ball across to the Welshman who was open after a Forest counter attack and his shot deflected of Robertson and found the back of the net. It is a first goal for Williams in a Forest shirt after making a £17 million pound move in the summer.
Just four minutes later, yet another set piece put Liverpool in front. Robertson sent in a free kick from deep left and he found an open Jota who brought the ball down and found the far bottom corner. It is just a fourth league goal for the Portuguese man as he found himself completely open due to Forest seemingly falling asleep. Just like the first half, set pieces proving to cause problems for Forest.
The away side then equalised for the second time in the afternoon. A long throw from Moussa Niakhate was headed away only as far as Gibbs-White and his first time volley deflected into the bottom corner. It is a first away goal for the record signing and the first time Forest had scored two goals in a league away game all season.
The goals kept flowing as twelve minutes from time another Liverpool set piece found the back of the net. Alexander Arnold finally getting his assist and his cross was put in by Salah at the back post after loosing his man. Goal number 16 in the league for the Reds top scorer as the hosts to the lead for the third time in the afternoon.
Forest were putting on pressure after going behind again. Substitute Johnson had a golden chance. From a long throw that caused problems, the Welshman was put through and he tried to lob it over Alisson and ended up hitting the bar and the Reds were coming close to an equaliser.
That equaliser never came for Forest and they were condemned to a eleventh game without a win at Anfield. The defeat has dropped the Reds down to 19th in the Premier League table just three points clear of the bottom and one point from safety but are still very much in the race for survival. Liverpool move up to 7th in the table in the table and are now four unbeaten in the league and are trying to end on a high after a disappointing season. Next up for the Red half of Merseyside is a trip to West Ham United as they will look to brush another side threatened with relegation. Forest host European chasing Brighton & Hove Albion at the City Ground where they will look for that winning feeling again after a good performance at last years UEFA Champions League finalists.
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