Jota rises to back Nottingham Forest after Wood scares Liverpool early | first division

Just when it seemed like nothing was going wrong for Liverpool in a captivating match, Arne Slot headed to the substitutes' bench midway through the second half and displayed his seemingly golden touch. Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota came on, the former teed the latter into a corner to equalize thanks to his first touches and keep Nottingham Forest at bay, who are still enjoying breaking into the title race. Even if it was an imperfect night for Liverpool, it was a significant conclusion. Jota's header was Liverpool's first shot on goal and the first goal Forest conceded in over 500 minutes.

For Forest, this is simply a ride his fans don't want to get off of. At the final whistle, their players were greeted with applause from all four corners of a pulsating stadium. This was another strong performance under Nuno Espírito Santo, another impressive step in an extraordinary season and a point lifts them to second place, six points behind the leaders, who also have a game in hand. Given this evidence, Forest may prove to be Liverpool's fiercest rival, especially now that both Chelsea and Manchester City have dropped more points.

Nuno insisted that the composition of these teams had changed in the five months since his team delivered Liverpool, their only league defeatThis season, the Portuguese are at pains to say that the parameters here were totally different: this is a totally new test. But from the moment Nuno arrived at the City Ground, carrying a backpack as if turning up for a 9-5 office job, this was the same old Forest: determined, rigid in setup and simply devastating on the counter-attack.

The bass of Born Slippy, a pre-match staple, reverberated around this vibrant ground and the obvious feel-good factor was in the overdrive. By then, Evangelos Marinakis, the owner, had already wandered around the field to observe the scene. Ryan Yates, the captain reinstated in the starting eleven who joined the club aged eight, faced off against Virgil van Dijk, who was right in the middle. Yates received a standing ovation when he retired with 20 minutes remaining.

Liverpool finished the first half with nine shots, most of them from outside the Forest area, directed impeccably by Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo, a supreme defensive duo. Cody Gakpo had Liverpool's first attempt, losing his balance. Ryan Gravenberch twice swung wildly and missed. Under Nuno, Forest goes to work when presented with small opportunities to punish mistakes.

When Callum Hudson-Odoi, scorer of the winning goal at Anfield in September, snatched the ball from Mohamed Salah, the visitors were in trouble. Hudson-Odoi played a pass to Anthony Elanga, who released Chris Wood down the left channel. Forest opened Liverpool up with two incisive passes and Wood's first shot, crossed over the goal, gave Alisson no chance. It was a good Forest goal, Wood's 13th of the season. Cue the ecstasy in the stands, Forest fans of all ages in disbelief. Nuno, with his arms crossed, remained expressionless.

Just over a minute later, Murillo intercepted a loose Gravenberch pass and fired a shot just over 30 yards. Even Nuno allowed himself a wry smile. Forest were in the mood, but Liverpool didn't get carried away. At the same time, things didn't add up. Slot cheered above his head after Trent Alexander-Arnold overcooked a second diagonal pass intended for Gakpo. Luis Díaz finished from a distance. Andy Robertson made a blind pass that went out of play for a Matz Sels goal kick. Dominik Szoboszlai slapped his hands in frustration.

Forest forced Liverpool's errors, Ola Aina chasing Robertson to botch a routine pass. Neco Williams prevented Salah from taking advantage of another cut pass from Alexander-Arnold. When Szoboszlai manhandled Morgan Gibbs-White in midfield, it was the latter who was penalized after questioning referee Chris Kavanagh's decision not to caution the Liverpool midfielder.

The second half was shaping up to be a similar story for Liverpool until Slot made an inspired double substitution, although he was reluctant to take much credit for how it played out. Until then, Forest had been having fun, so much so that Murillo attempted an audacious shot after bursting into the opposition half having beaten Salah and then Gravenberch. There were olés after Forest played neat triangles around Alexander-Arnold before Alexis Mac Allister brought down Gibbs-White. From the next free kick, Elanga accurately shot Alisson on the hour mark. It was another shot on goal, something Liverpool eluded for 65 minutes.

Robertson had a difficult night and it was no surprise that he was one of two players withdrawn by Slot. No one could have expected Robertson's replacement to have such an immediate impact. The same happened with Jota, who replaced center back Ibrahima Konaté, a clear indication that Slot was in no mood to succumb. A left-footed corner from Tsimikas entered the area and Jota stepped between Wood and Murillo to head home Sels, who had another magnificent game. Nuno, who coached Jota at Wolves, admitted that the Portuguese striker, who is not known for his aerial ability, is always a real threat in the box.

Liverpool pushed for a winning goal as Forest's attack faded from view, but Elanga sent an inviting low ball across the six-yard box that was not met with five minutes of normal time remaining. Moments later, Aina cleared Salah's shot off the line and Szoboszlai saw a shot deflected beyond a post, but Sels left the field like Forest's hero, making a magnificent trio of late saves, frustrating Jota, Salah and then to Gakpo, the latter. during seven minutes of tense stoppage time.