Ian Doyle with the main talking point from Liverpool's Premier League clash at Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring his side's first goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at City Ground on February 22, 2026 in Nottingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Alexis Mac Allister is mobbed by his Liverpool team-mate after his dramatic winner at Nottingham Forest(Image: Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
View Image
The ecstatic Liverpool supporters couldn’t help themselves. As they celebrated following a remarkable, unlikely victory, it was impossible to resist throwing shade back in the direction of the home crowd.
After the Reds had been taunted for much of the game by the City Ground faithful, the travelling Kop swiftly repurposed their favoured chant to the tune of Zombie by The Cranberries to suggest Arne Slot had, at long last, got into the heads of Nottingham Forest.
But finally earning victory over the Tricky Trees at the fourth time of asking will perhaps be last on the list of positives that could be taken from this dramatic triumph.
In terms of Liverpool’s overall performance, particularly during a desperate first half, there was precious little good to be said. The quality at times was shocking.
What wasn’t, though, was the resilience and determination to persist and gradually wear down a Forest team under the correct assumption the home team would tire after their midweek Europa League exploits.
Dominik Szoboszlai deserves credit for not panicking when, on receiving a throw-in from Joe Gomez deep into injury time, he took his time before fashioning a crossing opportunity. Virgil van Dijk rose highest, Stefan Ortega’s attempt to save was hindered by Murillo and Alexis Mac Allister was on hand to smash home from close range.
Two years ago, it had been Mac Allister with the cool head and quality to put a ball into the box from almost exactly the same place on the pitch for Darwin Nunez to head in an even later winner.
Amid the ensuing wild celebrations, Hugo Ekitike would surely have breathed a sigh of relief. Mac Allister had already seen a 90th-minute effort disallowed by VAR for an apparent handball when struck by Ola Aina’s clearance at point-blank range after Ekitike shouldn’t have given Ortega any hope of making a save with his header from substitute Rio Ngumoha.
Even then, there were fears Liverpool’s eventual winner could be chalked off before being given the green light after another VAR check, this time for offside.
That would have perhaps been too much for any team to take, let alone one that has been on the receiving end of so many late blows this season.
Instead, the Reds have now further turned up the heat on a faltering Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
Liverpool’s luck, and that of Slot, may now be changing. It could not come at a better moment.