Darwin Núñez emerged as the hero with a dramatic last-minute header, securing a crucial 1-0 victory for Premier League leaders Liverpool over relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday.
Núñez's decisive goal, scored in the 99th minute, propelled Liverpool four points clear at the top of the table with 63 points from 27 matches, although second-placed Manchester City still hold a game in hand. Meanwhile, the defeat left a devastated Forest clinging to a precarious four-point cushion above the relegation zone in 17th place.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed his admiration for his team's resilience in navigating through a challenging fixture schedule, particularly amid squad constraints: "Four games in 11 days is really tricky with the squad situation we have. It was super special... I'm really happy. I can't ask for more than what the boys are doing."
The match concluded in a frenzy of emotions, with referee Paul Tierney facing the ire of Forest's coaching staff and owner Evangelos Marinakis after the final whistle. First-team coach Steven Reid received a red card, while Marinakis confronted Tierney to voice his dissatisfaction.
Despite Liverpool's dominance in possession, Forest's resolute defense thwarted their attacking efforts, seemingly heading towards a stalemate. However, Liverpool persisted, with substitute Núñez's header ultimately breaching Forest's defense to seal the victory.
Alexis Mac Allister, provider of the crucial cross for Núñez's goal, reflected on the dramatic moment: "In that moment I knew it was last minute and I just had to put it in... Darwin is such an important player for us."
Klopp lauded Mac Allister's composure, praising his pivotal contribution: "The goal was set up by a guy who was the calmest on the whole pitch... Super assist and super important goal."
The match's conclusion was marred by controversy surrounding the referee's decision-making. Forest's grievances stemmed from the handling of play after Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté sustained a head injury just before Núñez's goal. Mark Clattenburg, a former Premier League referee turned analyst, clarified the protocol regarding such situations.
Liverpool's victory capped off a hectic 11-day period that included wins over Luton Town, Southampton in the FA Cup, and Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final. Klopp hailed his team's remarkable achievement in light of the challenging circumstances, particularly emphasizing the contributions of returning players Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai.
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