Liverpool had to battle to a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest and there were a couple of things that made a difference.
Does anyone truly know when the business end of the season is? Can anyone actually define when the home straight begins?
Regardless, with 11 Premier League fixtures remaining, Liverpool F.C. are in the final stretch and know what is required. By Arne Slot’s own admission, missing out on Champions League qualification would be unacceptable for the Reds.
Some fans might feel Liverpool’s failure to mount a competitive title defence is intolerable. There has been mitigation, however, following a significant summer squad rebuild and the tragic death of Diogo Jota. But not being in the Champions League in the 2026–27 campaign would be inimical to the club on and off the pitch. Liverpool would not carry the same attraction when recruiting in the summer transfer window, while revenues would drop significantly.
Finishing in the Premier League’s top five is imperative to owners Fenway Sports Group’s sustainable model. Of course, winning the Champions League is another route, but Slot is pragmatic and understands how great a challenge conquering Europe will be — even though Liverpool’s performances in the elite competition have been markedly more impressive than their domestic displays.
The Reds’ 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest was crucial. Alexis Mac Allister’s 97th-minute goal ensured Liverpool moved level on points with Chelsea, who had conceded a 93rd-minute equaliser against Burnley.
Liverpool’s triumph at Forest was arguably undeserved — their first-half performance in particular was atrocious — but it could prove pivotal in the race for European qualification. While the focus may centre on how poor the display was, there were a couple of positives that could aid Slot’s side in the remaining games.
Rio Ngumoha made a game-changing cameo off the bench. There are significant hopes for the 17-year-old winger, who was poached from Chelsea. His late winner in a 3-2 victory at Newcastle United last August underlined his quality, as did his pre-season outings.
Ngumoha has primarily been deployed on the left flank during his Liverpool career at both first-team and youth level. That was the position he initially occupied against Forest, although he was barely involved. Slot then made the decision to switch Ngumoha to the right-hand side — a move that paid dividends.
Ngumoha began to place Liverpool in genuinely threatening positions and thought he had engineered the match-winner in the 89th minute. The teenager beat Neco Williams — who had shackled Mo Salah before his withdrawal — and stood up a cross that Hugo Ekitike should have buried. While Alexis Mac Allister charged down Forest defender Ola Aina’s clearance and the ball found the net, VAR intervened for handball.
Deploying Ngumoha on the right wing, arguably his more natural side, should give Slot food for thought. It would allow Liverpool to reach the byline more frequently and deliver into the box. While Ngumoha’s long-term future may lie on the opposite flank, he is still developing physically and it is often easier to beat a defender one-vs-one on the outside rather than operating as an inverted winger.
And while it may not sit entirely comfortably with Slot, Joe Gomez’s long throw-ins made a difference in the closing stages. The tactic has enjoyed something of a revival throughout the 2025–26 season, with Brentford, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and league leaders Arsenal all profiting from such routines.
It may not be popular among all Liverpool supporters, but their effectiveness cannot be denied. Gomez’s deliveries caused Forest problems before the decision to go short to Dominik Szoboszlai — who crossed for Mac Allister’s decisive intervention — appeared to catch the home side off guard.
Liverpool have struggled to break down low blocks this campaign. Gomez’s throw-ins add another dimension if the Reds require a late goal.
A fiercely contested race for the Champions League places will only intensify. Chelsea have shown vulnerabilities, while Aston Villa — six points above Liverpool — may be wobbling after winning only one of their past four league games. The margin for error is slim — but two additional weapons may just have been unearthed at a crucial moment.
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