Victor Munoz struck a deflected equaliser to deny Nottingham Forest victory at Anfield, leaving Andoni Iraola still searching for his first win as Liverpool manager after a 2-2 draw on Saturday, 29 August.
Iraola's side appeared headed for defeat when Morgan Gibbs-White converted a contentious penalty with 20 minutes remaining. Yet the summer arrival Munoz, making his first competitive appearance in front of the Kop, responded with a powerful finish that ensured the points were shared.
The result extends Iraola's winless run to two matches. Munoz had returned to the squad alongside Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister, with the Brazilian goalkeeper and midfielder both featuring in the starting eleven. Liverpool had drawn 2-2 at Newcastle the previous weekend, and this stalemate continues their struggle to find a victory under their new boss.
Forest dominated the opening period, exploiting Liverpool's vulnerability to direct play. A long ball from goalkeeper Matz Sels proved decisive in the build-up to Dan Ndoye's opener in the 24th minute. Jesus latched onto Sels' pass and fed Gibbs-White, who found Ndoye in the box to finish past Alisson.
Liverpool's defending for that goal lacked organisation, though Forest manager Oliver Glasner will harbour regrets about the chances squandered in that first half. A crucial save from Alisson just before the interval, pushing Igor Jesus' shot onto the bar, proved pivotal in keeping the deficit manageable.
The hosts emerged with greater purpose after the break. Cody Gakpo had impressed on the right flank despite reported interest from Tottenham and Manchester City, and his low cross found Alexander Isak, who tapped in from close range in the 60th minute to level the match.
Munoz had moved to the right wing moments before Gakpo's withdrawal, and the winger's positioning would prove crucial. When Gibbs-White restored Forest's lead from the penalty spot in the 70th minute—after Alisson brought down Neco Williams following a quick throw from Liam Delap—Liverpool needed another response.
That response came in the 82nd minute. Florian Wirtz threaded a pass to Munoz, who struck a powerful effort that deflected off Murillo and underneath the bar to level once more. The goal capped a frustrating but ultimately productive debut for the summer signing.
Penalty decision sparks debate
The Gibbs-White penalty proved contentious. Alisson had advanced to meet Williams' run and made contact with the Forest player, but the challenge was marginal.
He's knocked it over the goalkeeper and Alisson has caught him slightly. There's not much else he can do. It's like a coming together. But once it's given, it's not going to be overturned because it's not a clear and obvious error from the referee.Mike Dean told Soccer Saturday, reflecting the view that while the contact existed, the decision fell within the referee's discretion and did not constitute a clear and obvious error for VAR intervention.
Context and form
Coming into the fixture, Munoz made his first competitive start for Liverpool, with Mac Allister also returning to the line-up. Liverpool arrived at Anfield with one point from their opening fixture, while Forest had yet to register a point. The visitors had suffered a 1-0 defeat to Leeds on 22 August, followed by a 2-0 Carabao Cup loss to the same opponents three days later.
Pre-match analysis had favoured the hosts. Opta's supercomputer assigned Liverpool a 61.1 percent win probability against Forest's 18.2 percent, yet the match unfolded as an entertaining but ultimately frustrating stalemate for both sides, each still seeking their first league victory of the season.
Key moments
The match contained several pivotal passages. In the 12th minute, Ndoye nodded down Ola Aina's back-post cross, but Jeremy Jacquet's stretched block denied Igor Jesus. Ndoye came close again in the 19th minute, steering James McAtee's clipped cross wide at the back post.
Liverpool thought they had equalised in the 33rd minute when Florian Wirtz intercepted a McAtee pass and converted from Jeremie Frimpong's assist, but VAR ruled the goal out for Frimpong's offside in the build-up. Gakpo's cross in the 39th minute saw Wirtz's header tipped over by Sels, while Munoz bent an effort narrowly over the bar in the 45th minute.
Dominik Szoboszlai came close to snatching a winner in the 85th minute, his free-kick curling past the post as both sides pushed for victory in an action-packed encounter that neither could quite settle.
