In what looked set to be a difficult afternoon at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest boss Vítor Pereira went into the clash against Liverpool brimming with confidence — only to be taken aback by a familiar foe’s dogged resolve.

Forest dominated from start to finish — creating chance after chance, putting Liverpool under unrelenting pressure and controlling large patches of the game — yet somehow, somehow, the Reds walked away with all three points.

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Liverpool’s Struggles … Until the Death

For long stretches, Arne Slot’s side looked utterly disjointed. They lacked fluency, failed to create quality chances, and were stretched defensively — with Forest’s attack more threatening than you’d expect from a side fighting to stay above the relegation zone.

Forest fired 12 shots in the first half alone — the most any side has managed against Liverpool in a Premier League first half since 2015. Yet the Reds clung on.

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Drama in the Dying Moments

Just when it seemed the game might end in a frustrating stalemate, drama struck in stoppage time.

Alexis Mac Allister appeared to score, only for VAR to rule it out for handball — a decision that sent shockwaves through both sets of fans.

But the Argentine wasn’t finished. In the 97th minute, he pounced on the rebound after Virgil van Dijk’s header was parried, and this time the goal stood — pulling Liverpool from the jaws of a draw and sending the away supporters into delirium.

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Forest Boss Left in Awe

Despite Forest’s energetic display and tactical grit — which, on paper, deserved at least a point — Pereira could only admit his team was punished by the slimmest of margins. He expressed post-match frustration, insisting his side merited something from the game and lamenting fine details that ultimately decided the contest.

His bewilderment wasn’t surprising. His players had dominated play, carved out opportunity after opportunity, and yet the scoreboard ended in Liverpool’s favour — thanks to late drama that even the manager admitted was heartbreaking.

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Liverpool’s Relentless Fight

For all their missteps, Liverpool showed a resilience that few teams possess. They weathered relentless Forest pressure, absorbed wave after wave of attacks, and somehow snatched three points when it mattered most.

This wasn’t pretty football — by any measure. Some pundits even labelled Liverpool’s display a “horror show” at times — yet the spirit to grind out a result is what keeps them in the hunt for a top-four finish.

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Final Thoughts

So what really happened at the City Ground?

👉 A Forest side tore Liverpool apart — yet still left empty-handed.

👉 A manager was left stunned by how a game he controlled slipped away.

👉 And one man seized the moment when his team needed him most.

Football can be cruel — and on Sunday, it was ruthless. 😱🔥