Liverpool on Monday eked out yet another comfortable win at Anfield against Nottingham Forest in a Premier League encounter. Goals from Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Mohammad Salah sealed the tie for the Reds. The Reds climbed up to the third spot of PL table with 23 points from 10 matches.
Jurgen Klopp made seven changes from his team’s 5-1 thumping of Toulouse in the Europa League in midweek. Alisson was reinstated between the sticks while Konate, Van Dijk and Tsimikas came into the back four. Gravenberch impressed against Toulouse and kept his place in midfield. He was joined by the returning Szoboszlai and Mac Allister. Salah started ahead of Elliott. Luis Diaz was absent from the squad amid concerns over his family’s welfare after his parents were kidnapped in his home country of Colombia. His mother has been found, but his father remains missing.
Steve Cooper went with a change of formation, playing with five defenders instead of the four he employed in the 2-2 home draw with Luton Town last weekend. To accommodate the alteration in shape, Niakhate was preferred to Toffolo while Aina replaced Chris Wood. The New Zealand international was absent altogether with a hamstring injury having netted both of Forest’s goals against the Hatters.
Liverpool scored the opening goal in the half-an-hour mark through Diogo Jota. A swift move from the hosts saw Salah slide a neat through-ball into the path of Nunez, who fired goalwards. The forward’s effort was saved by Turner, but the Forest goalkeeper could only parry back into the danger area, where Jota was on hand to tap home the rebound.
The Reds scored the second just minutes later when Darwin Nunez amassed yet another goal. Jota picked out Szoboszlai in midfield before the Hungary international played a lovely one-two with Salah. Szoboszlai managed to dig out a cross, and Nunez was waiting in the middle to turn home.
Liverpool added a third in the second half with a familiar name Mohammad Salah getting on the scoresheet. It was an absolute howler from Turner, who raced out of his goal to try and cut out Szoboszlai’s punted ball upfield. The Forest goalkeeper completely misjudged the bounce of the ball and Salah latched onto it, coolly finishing to make it 3-0.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forrest XI
Liverpool XI – Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Konstantinos Tsimikas; Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch; Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota.
Nottingham Forrest XI – Matt Turner; Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Moussa Niakhate, Murillo, Ola Aina; Ibrahim Sangare, Orel Mangala, Nicolas Dominguez; Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White.
