Mac Allister nets dramatic winner, Salah struggles - 5 Liverpool talking points vs Nottingham Forest

Despite struggling for long spells against Nottingham Forest, a late surge from Liverpool saw it earn a dramatic injury-time winner via Alexis Mac Allister at the City Ground

Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool earned a late dramatic winner against Nottingham Forest on Sunday as Alexis Mac Allister's injury-time goal ensured the Reds took a vital three points at the City Ground.

For 90 minutes, this was another uninspiring display from the Premier League champions, especially in the first half. But two late incidents proved vital, as Mac Allister twice scored, and twice his goals were checked by VAR. The first was disallowed, but the second stood to ensure the Reds grabbed all three points.

Here are the main talking points from the City Ground.

Unwanted change

Liverpool has endured rotten luck with injuries this season, and there was a fresh setback at the City Ground as Florian Wirtz suffered a knock in the warm-up which forced him to drop out of the side. He was replaced by Curtis Jones, lined up in a more offensive role.

"It's a big blow. He's been the one knitting everything together," said Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports. That prediction proved prescient, with the Reds lacking fluidity without its no.7. So sluggish was Liverpool's start, Arne Slot ultimately opted to switch Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai, with the latter moving into midfield after around 30 minutes.

Dismally disjointed

If Sunday was another test of Liverpool's progression, Slot will have been horrified by the results. The first 45 minutes in Nottingham contained all the hallmarks of the Reds' worst performances of the season: individual errors, a lack of physicality, while the champions lacked any sort of rhythm in possession.

Buoyed by the midweek win in Turkey, and yet another new managerial dawn, the Forest fans created an intense atmosphere at the City Ground. Not for the first time this season, Liverpool wilted. That was underlined by a half-time stat that the Reds had conceded 12 efforts in first period, the most in an opening Premier League 45 since May 2015.

Salah struggles

Perhaps the biggest indicator of Liverpool's downturn this season has been the form of Mohamed Salah. Last season's Player of the Season has not scored an open-play goal in the league since November, and put in another woeful showing in Nottingham.

That Slot replaced him with 12 minutes as Liverpool chased a goals summed it all up. He ruefully smiled from the substitutes' bench. Inside, he must feel distraught at his continued struggles.

How the table looks

After Chelsea dropped points on Saturday, Liverpool knew this was a chance to draw level on points with the Blues and Manchester United. The 0-0 draw means the champions remain in sixth, two points behind their rivals. That could change on Monday, however, with United travelling to Everton.