Nunez injury-time strike helps Liverpool subdue Forest

Darwin Nunez scored a 99th-minute winner to give Liverpool a dramatic 1-0 victory away at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.

The striker returned from injury to net in the dying seconds at the City Ground to consolidate the Reds’ spot at the top of the standings.

After the visitors went close on several occasions throughout the afternoon, Nunez stepped off the bench in the second half and flicked in Alexis Mac Allister’s cross to clinch the three points.

In a rather drab opening quarter of an hour, former Red Divock Origi came closest to a goal with his long-range hit that flew just wide. At the other end, a Luis Diaz shot took a deflection off Andrew Omobamidele and found the side netting.

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Forest came close again in minute 23, launching a counter-attack after Mac Allister could not flick Harvey Elliott’s cut-back towards goal. Origi sent Anthony Elanga through on goal but he was thwarted by the legs of Caoimhin Kelleher in a one-on-one situation.

A pair of opportunities then fell Diaz’s way. The first, off a rebound from Clark’s scuffed shot, was stopped by a last-ditch block from Murillo, while the Colombian later dragged an effort wide from an encouraging position inside the Forest penalty area.

In the final moments of the half, no one in purple was in a position to meet Cody Gakpo’s header back across goal when Mac Allister lifted a ball into the box.

Robertson thought he had put Liverpool in front five minutes after the restart.

Conor Bradley’s pull-back was diverted to the left-back’s position at the back post by Nicolas Dominguez and his first-time strike was destined for the net had it not been for the vital block from Omobamidele.

Wataru Endo and Nunez were inserted into proceedings on the hour mark, with the latter finding the side-netting in his first few moments on the pitch.

Shortly after, Elanga was inches away from breaking the deadlock for Forest, his sweeping off Harry Toffolo’s delivery drifting just past the right-hand post of Kelleher.

The Reds enjoyed a strong spell as their pursuit for a winner stepped up, going close through Gakpo, Nunez and Diaz in quick succession. Meanwhile, Kelleher was needed at the other end to keep out a low shot from Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The visitors’ pressure continued – Murillo nearly headed into his own net from a corner but Matz Sels was alert to palm away the goalwards flick.

And their perseverance was rewarded right at the end. Mac Allister picked up possession after a Liverpool corner was half-cleared and his delivery into the box was nodded beyond Sels by Nunez, sparking wild scenes in the away end.