Rio Ngumoha‘s cameo showed the future, as Mohamed Salah‘s substitution showed the changing of the guard to come on Liverpool’s wing.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool
Premier League (27) | City Ground
February 22, 2026
Goal: Mac Allister 90+7′
Humongous win in Champions League race
It may not have been pretty, but it is impossible to deny how big a win that is in terms of the race for Champions League football.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates with team-mates Andy Robertson (L) and Ibrahima Konaté (R) after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Up against a Nottingham Forest side boosted by new manager bounce and with a crowd behind them that has no love for Liverpool, it would have been so easy for Arne Slot‘s side to fold.
Yet they kept at it, shaking off setbacks in a manner we haven’t seen often enough this season, and then showed the quality to nick it at the death.
That brings the Reds level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United – a scenario that would have been unthinkable a few short weeks ago.
There is no guarantee they do it from here, of course, but neither rival will fancy being up against the reigning Premier League champions in this race.
Small credit for first-half showing
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 22, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk challenges for a header with Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White during the FA Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It might seem like madness to praise a first half that saw Liverpool utterly dominated, but it was not just down to luck that they came out of it with zero goals conceded.
Forest took 12 shots – the most Liverpool have faced in the first half of a Premier League game since being beaten 6-1 by Stoke in May 2015 – but managed to find the target with just two of them.
And that is because they took eight of those efforts from outside of the area; an approach the visitors were no doubt forcing upon them.
If you’re going to be as bad as the Reds were in that opening 45 minutes, then at least make it hard for the opposition to create high-quality opportunities.
Liverpool did that, and that set them up to improve in the second period and then go and win the game.
Mo Salah decline is now clear
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 22, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo (L), Mohamed Salah and Milos Kerkez on the bench after being substituted off during the FA Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Though Mohamed Salah wore a wry smile as he walked from the City Ground pitch following his second-half withdrawal, the Egyptian could have few complaints.
Zero shots, one chance created, and just 69% of his passes finding the mark – this was a poor performance that deserved less than 77 minutes.
And the fact is, these sorts of showing are becoming more and more regular, as the fact that Salah marked his longest ever Premier League goal drought in failing to score for a ninth straight game here.
It is obvious now that we are watching a declining great, and that the sensible thing for Liverpool to do in the summer would be to move on.
That will be a sad day, of course, but time remains undefeated and Salah is simply its latest victim.
Rio Ngumoha changes the game
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's substitute goalkeeper Rio Ngumoha on the bench before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
If Salah would like to make a case to stick around, then it is hardly helped by the performance of his replacement Rio Ngumoha.
The 17-year-old was electric after emerging from the bench, and would have set up the winner had Hugo Ekitike nodded in a simple chance that led to Alexis Mac Allister‘s disallowed strike.
In the end, he will have to settle for creating a chance, completing two dribbles, and helping push Forest back to set up Liverpool’s late smash and grab.
“He has incredible potential,” said Slot post-match. “He’s making progress more and more, and that’s why lately you see him playing more and more.”
Surely it is time to see more of the teenager before the season is out?
Another solid Ibrahima Konate showing
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates with team-mate Ibrahima Konaté (R) after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That Liverpool rode out a tricky first half owed a lot to their defence operating at a far, far higher level that the rest of the team.
And arguably the most impressive member of the back four was Ibrahima Konate, whose form has turned a huge corner of late.
The Frenchman ended the game having won 6/12 duels and with five clearances and six recoveries to his name as Liverpool held firm.
If he can keep playing in this manner between now and the end of the season, it will be a huge boost to the Reds’ hopes of achieving their aims.