Diogo Jota equalised with his first touch as Liverpool came from behind to take home a point from a 1-1 draw with Premier League title rivals Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Despite ceding 70% possession to the Reds in the first half, Forest executed their game plan to perfection and went into the interval a goal to the good thanks to Chris Wood's 13th top-flight effort of the season.
Arne Slot's men huffed and puffed after going behind in the eighth minute, but Matz Sels did not have a single save to make in the opening 45; the Reds went for goal nine times and missed the target nine times.
However, the Liverpool boss proceeded to make an unbelievably effective double change in the second half, as Kostas Tsimikas's first touch was a delightful corner to fellow substitute Jota, whose first touch was a deft equalising header into the far corner 22 seconds after his introduction.
The Portuguese's astonishing leveller - the quickest Premier League goal ever scored by a Liverpool substitute on record - set up a frenetic, end-to-end finale, one where Sels truly earned his keep as Nuno Espirito Santo's men managed to cling on for a brilliant point.
While Forest's seven-game winless run might be over, they temporarily go above Arsenal into second place in the Premier League table, while Liverpool - who still have that game in hand - maintain their six-point lead at the top over the Tricky Trees, now their closest challengers.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
And breathe.
Tuesday's showdown between the two sides now occupying the top two positions in the Premier League table more than lived up to the billing, and few should be doubting the hosts' title credentials now.
Santo's men may have faced a staggering 23 shots while not even having 30% of the ball, but thanks to another Sels special and Murillo masterclass, they repelled everything that Liverpool could throw at them towards the end.
Even if the Tricky Trees could not replicate their Anfield success from September, Santo's men should consider Tuesday's point one gained rather than two dropped, but Liverpool will likely travel home with a different mentality.
Slot's men had scored two goals in 12 straight games in the Premier League before the trip to Nottingham, and while it was always going to be an extremely tough ask to keep that hot streak going, they did not help themselves with some extremely wayward finishing.
Still, the Reds remain unbeaten on the road in the top flight this term and maintain their unassailable lead over their nearest challengers and Arsenal. Not perfect, but not disastrous for the table toppers.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. LIVERPOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Chris Wood goal vs. Liverpool (8th min, Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool)
Just listen to that roar 🔊
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 14, 2025
Chris Wood opens the scoring for Nottingham Forest through a perfectly executed break 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/pFyMCc3zLl
Talk about setting a cat amongst the pigeons! Liverpool lose the ball in the middle of the park, and the battling Callum Hudson-Odoi plays a crisp forward pass to Anthony Elanga, who gets his head up and spots the run of Wood.
Trent Alexander-Arnold cannot charge back quickly enough to intercept, nor can Virgil van Dijk to close down the angle, and Wood sweeps home a delightful low finish into the far side of the net.
Diogo Jota goal vs. Nottingham Forest (66th min, Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool)
The definition of instant impact 😤
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 14, 2025
Diogo Jota scores with his first touch of the game just 25 seconds after being subbed on ⏰
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/vaEVR0hIGD
The two greatest substitutions in Premier League history?!
The Reds boss sends on Tsimikas and Jota as Liverpool line up a corner; the Greek whips the ball in, and none other than Jota rises highest to flick the ball into the bottom corner.
Tsimikas's first touch = assist. Jota's first touch = goal. Has this ever happened in the Premier League before? Where are the Opta lads when you need them.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MATZ SELS
© Imago
The man pictured above cost Nottingham Forest £6.8m.
One of many astute acquisitions the Tricky Trees have made since returning to the big time, the former Strasbourg goalkeeper had an exceptionally quiet first half, but he was nothing short of sensational when Liverpool upped the ante in the second.
Sels ended the game with five saves - most of which were acrobatic or otherwise astounding - but the perpetually solid Murillo also deserves a mention.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. LIVERPOOL MATCH STATS
Possession: Nottingham Forest 29%-71% Liverpool
Shots: Nottingham Forest 6-23 Liverpool
Shots on target: Nottingham Forest 3-7 Liverpool
Corners: Nottingham Forest 0-9 Liverpool
Fouls: Nottingham Forest 7-10 Liverpool
BEST STATS
Nottingham Forest have scored first in 17 different Premier League games this season, at least four more than any other side.
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 14, 2025
Another fast start at the City Ground. 🏎️#NFOLIV
◉ 64:57' Tsimikas comes on
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 14, 2025
◉ 65:01' Jota comes on
◉ 65:32' Tsimikas assists Jota
WOW! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/n8b45Lyh9o
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 14, 2025
Diogo Jota's goal 22 seconds after coming off the bench is Liverpool's fastest sub goal on record (since 2006/07) in a Premier League match. ⏱️#NFOLIV | @bet365 | #Ad pic.twitter.com/hLI8PqN2c6
WHAT NEXT?
Things hardly get easier on the road for Liverpool, who must travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to square off with Brentford on Saturday, before resuming Champions League action at home to Lille on January 21.
In contrast, Forest face a much friendlier home fixture on Sunday afternoon, hosting rock-bottom Southampton at the City Ground.
Ben Knapton
