Darwin Nunez headed in the last breath as leaders of the Premier League Liverpool picked up three points with a wild 1-0 victory over the relegation-threatened team. Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday.
Núñez's goal in the 99th minute leaves Liverpool four points ahead of second place city of manchester with 63 points in 27 games, although Pep Guardiola's team has one less game. The result left a shattered Forest four points above the relegation zone in 17th place.
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“We played the most difficult game because of the circumstances,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said. “Four games in 11 days is really complicated given the situation of the team we have.
“It was super special. You could see that today was not easy for us in any part of the game. It's very difficult. A wonderful feeling. I'm very happy. I can't ask for more than what the boys are.” doing.”
Chaos ensued after the final whistle, with referee Paul Tierney surrounded by the enraged Forest coaching staff, and first-team coach Steven Reid receiving a red card. The owner of the forest, Evangelos Marinakis, also approached the gang to express his displeasure and then approached Tierney.
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Liverpool dominated possession but struggled in the final third against Forest's diligent defensive effort and the match looked destined for a draw.
Liverpool continued to press, with the Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels making some great late saves, including a brilliant save from a Núñez header minutes before the substitute's latest heroics. Alexis Mac AllisterCross that made the Liverpool bench jump to their feet in celebration.
“At that moment I knew it was last minute and I had to do it,” Mac Allister said. “Darwin is a very important player for us. There are no easy games in the Premier League. I am very happy, very happy.”
Klopp praised Mac Allister's poise.
“The goal was scored by a boy who was calmer on the entire field,” he said. “He was calm. He hits the ball there. Super assist and super important goal.”
– Liverpool ratings: Núñez 9/10 for winning exploits
The referee officially awarded eight extra minutes, which was perhaps the cause of Forest's complaints and discontent that the home team did not recover the ball when play was interrupted after the Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate He received a blow to the head from a Forest corner just before the goal.
Tierney missed with Forest in possession on the edge of the Liverpool area. After Konate quickly recovered, Tierney dropped the ball to the Liverpool goalkeeper. Caoimhin Kelleherwho then started the attack that finally led to the goal.
“The law states that if the referee is going to stop play (which he has the right to do due to a head injury), the ball has to go back to the team that has possession,” said former Premier League player Mark Clattenburg. . Referee who has become a referee analyst at Forest.
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Liverpool's frenetic 11 days included a league win luton cityan FA Cup fifth round victory over Southampton and a victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final.
Klopp has also struggled with an injury crisis that has sidelined key players, including Talisman. Mohamed Salah — who missed again Sunday with a hamstring injury — forcing him to fill holes with young players.
“If you had told me 12 days ago that we would win all four games, I would have said there was no chance, it was impossible,” Klopp said. “Given the circumstances, winning the games is ridiculous.”
Substitutes Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai They returned from injury on Saturday and their impact was felt immediately.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
