Liverpool’s Champions League hopes boosted by ‘heist’ at Nottingham Forest

Carnage would be an understatement to describe the closing moments of Liverpool’s victory at the City Ground, but it would not be over the top to call the win a heist – one that puts Arne Slot’s side firmly in the Champions League hunt.

The fact that Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira said he was «angry with football» summed it up. Forest did not deserve to lose.

For large parts of the afternoon, the home fans chanted «In your head, Arne, Arne, Arne» to the tune of Zombie by The Cranberries as Pereira’s side dominated the defending champions.

Before today, Slot had failed to beat Forest in any of his previous three attempts as Liverpool boss.

Yet as the Liverpool players made their way to the away end after snatching a remarkable victory through Alexis Mac Allister, the same chant came from the travelling support, who could hardly believe their luck.

Liverpool were dull for most parts but deserve praise for their resilience and the importance of Mac Allister’s 97th-minute winner cannot be underestimated in the sense that it took Liverpool level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United, in fourth and fifth.

«It’s one of the biggest robberies I’ve seen in the Premier League this season,» said Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports.

For Slot, who has regularly insisted that Liverpool have been unfortunate on many an occasion this season, there was an admittance that his side had finally got the rub of the green.

«My emotions were emotions of happiness and relief because this is the first time I have to do a different post match press conference,» said Slot.

«We did not play a good game. We have been on the wrong side of the score after a good performance too many times.

«We got more than we deserved. A draw would have been a fair result,» he added. «We needed to be on the right side of things once in a while. It felt we have been lucky».

And credit is due to Mac Allister too, who found himself in the right place at the right time on two instances late on.

The first was his disallowed goal that came after Stefan Ortega had made a great save to deny Hugo Ekitike. As Ola Aina tried to clear the ball, it hit Mac Allister and flew into the net. But what would have been a fortuitous goal was chalked off because the ball was deemed to have hit his elbow, which was tight to his body.

«It hit my back and my elbow. I understand the rule but if you understand football, that goal should have stood,» Mac Allister told BBC Sport.

«The first half wasn’t good at all; positioning, pressing, intensity. It was not our standard. The second half, I wouldn’t say it was good but it was better,» he added.

For Liverpool, the journey back to Merseyside will be sweet. There really is nothing like a late winner, particularly in extra time of extra time as Slot stated, but the Dutchman will know that his team must improve.

Mohamed Salah had an off day and though he has upped his workrate off the ball since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, he has now gone nine Premier League games without a goal.

Against Forest he was replaced by Rio Ngumoha, who put in the cross that led to Mac Allister’s disallowed goal, and once again showed exactly why he’s so highly rated with an energetic performance.

«Ngumoha came on and had a bigger impact than Salah,» was the verdict of BBC pundit Pat Nevin on Radio 5 Live.

«He absolutely changed the game, this kid,» said Carragher.

Slot added: «He has incredible potential, otherwise, at 17 years of age, you don’t play as many minutes as he does in the Premier League, let alone at Liverpool.

«I don’t think there is any other 17-year-old who has played as many minutes in the Premier League.

«That tells you how much of a talent we think he is. He is making progress and that’s why you see him playing more and more.»

Ngumoha is yet to start a Premier League game for Liverpool but surely the wait won’t be long now.

«He gets stronger and stronger,» added Slot. «Apart from his moment when he had his one-v-one, there were also one or two other moments where he stood his ground.

«For him to show this already at 17 years of age, it says something about his talent.

«But as we all know, talent is only the start of his career, you need so many other things. Macca is a great example of mentality and that is something you need to have a career at this level.»

Liverpool certainly didn’t scintillate with their display in the Midlands but they showed the resilience of champions.

And there is still plenty of life in their season yet.