Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool Player Ratings: Mac Allister's Strike Wins It For Liverpool In the End Despite a Brave Fight from Forest

A tense and gritty Premier League encounter at The City Ground ended in a hard-fought goalless draw. Nottingham Forest will feel they had the better opportunities to snatch all three points. They certainly created the most clear-cut chances during the game.

Alisson was called into action early, making key saves to deny Forest's energetic attack. The match was characterised by its physicality. Numerous fouls and stoppages disrupted the flow of the game more often. This prevented either side from building sustained momentum.

Both defensive units deserve immense credit for their resilience. The home side's backline was particularly formidable, thwarting Liverpool's forwards at every turn. Ultimately, neither team could find the decisive breakthrough, a testament to the disciplined defending on display in this match.

Liverpool FC did find a way through Alexis Mac Allister, as a scrappy clearance from Ola Aina hit the Argentine and found the back of the net, only to be disallowed by VAR as the ball hit Mac Allister's elbow in the process.

The Argentine did have the last laugh, though, as he was the first to reach a loose ball in the penalty box to tuck it home in the 97th minute. The VAR was involved once again to check a possible offside from one of the best Premier League defenders currently, Virgil Van Dijk, who headed in the cross from Szoboszlai at first, but this time, luck favoured the visitors and the goal stood valid.

This defeat leaves Forest dangerously close to the relegation zone, while Liverpool go level on points with Manchester United (45).

Here are the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Ibrahim Sangare and Hugo Ekitike were tied on the most ground duels won (6).
• With possession share at 48-52%, Nottingham Forest had the superior xG (0.99) over Liverpool (0.54).
• Dominik Szoboszlai and Morgan Gibbs-White had the most successful key passes in this game (4).

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Have a look at the Liverpool Player Ratings from the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Alisson - 7.5: Kept Liverpool in the game with a couple of crucial saves. The stop to deny Callum Hudson-Odoi in the first half was world-class. His distribution was solid as ever, finding his man 83% of the time. Without him between the sticks, the result could have been very different. A commanding presence when Forest pressed high.

Defenders

Virgil van Dijk - 7.0: A typically solid, if unspectacular, performance from the captain. He was a calming influence at the back, making five crucial clearances. He won most of his long balls, but what stood out to us was his positioning, which snuffed out several attacks before they began. A leader's performance in a tough away fixture.

Ibrahima Konaté - 7.0: A strong and physical presence alongside his captain. Konaté's stats of four clearances and two interceptions tell the story of his afternoon. He was aggressive in the challenge, sometimes too much so, giving away three fouls. However, his recovery pace was vital on a few occasions.

Milos Kerkez - 6.5: A quiet but effective game for the defender. He wasn't flashy, but he did his job without any major errors. He held his position well and supported the attack when possible. A steady performance where he didn't put a foot wrong.

Dominik Szoboszlai - 8.0: Easily Liverpool's best outfield player. From our perspective, he was the only one who consistently looked like creating something. With four key passes, he was the creative engine in a team that otherwise struggled for ideas. He worked tirelessly, covering a lot of ground and trying to drive his team forward.

Midfielders

Alexis Mac Allister - 8.0: A very industrious but ultimately frustrating performance from the World Cup winner. He worked his socks off, winning five duels and recovering the ball six times. However, he lost possession ten times, and his final ball was often lacking. He had a decent chance with a header but couldn't convert.

Mohamed Salah - 6.0: A performance we did not expect. The Egyptian king was strangely subdued and struggled to get into the game at all. Losing possession 20 times is not a stat you associate with him. He was rightly substituted, as it just wasn't his day.

Curtis Jones - 5.5: A really poor outing for the midfielder. He squandered a big chance that could have won his team the game. He was dispossessed five times and seemed off the pace throughout. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Cody Gakpo - 6.0: Much like his attacking teammates, Gakpo was largely anonymous. He struggled to make an impact and was caught offside at a key moment. His substitution was no surprise. He looked a little lost out there, to be honest.

Ryan Gravenberch - 6.5: A solid, functional performance in the heart of midfield. His four interceptions show his good reading of the game. He kept the ball moving but didn't offer much in the way of forward penetration. Did his job defensively but was quiet on the offensive end.

Forwards

Hugo Ekitiké - 6.5: He showed flashes of what he can do, winning six duels and getting into some dangerous areas. However, his finishing let him down, particularly with a missed header. A willing runner who just lacked the final product on the day.

Manager

A. Slot - 6.0: He set his team up to be difficult to beat, and they achieved a clean sheet. However, the attack looked completely toothless and devoid of ideas. He failed to find a tactical solution to break down a very organized Nottingham Forest defense. A mixed day at the office.

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Have a look at the Nottingham Forest Player Ratings from the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Stefan Ortega - 7.0: He didn't have a huge amount to do, which is a credit to his defense. But when called upon to stop the shot from Curtis Jones, he was alert and made a smart save. Commanded his area well and looked confident throughout.

Defenders

Neco Williams - 7.5: What stood out to us was his defensive determination against his old club. He was immense, with eight clearances and four interceptions. He completely shut down his side of the pitch and was a rock at the back for Forest.

Murillo - 7.5: An excellent, composed display from the central defender. He was calm on the ball with 88% pass accuracy and made five vital clearances. He read the game beautifully and looked a class act against top-quality opposition.

Nikola Milenković - 8.0: A colossal performance. He won 100% of his duels and made seven clearances. He was an absolute mountain at the back that Liverpool's attack simply could not climb. His only blemish was a missed header, but his defensive work was virtually flawless.

Ola Aina - 6.5: A battling performance. He had a tough time and picked up a yellow card for his troubles. However, he never shirked a challenge and stuck to his task diligently. A hard-working display, even if he was on the back foot for periods.

Midfielders

Ibrahim Sangaré - 8.0: A powerhouse in midfield. Sangaré was everywhere, making a remarkable five tackles and recovering the ball eight times. He broke up play relentlessly and even created a big chance for his team. A truly dominant midfield display.

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 7.0: Looked like Forest's most dangerous attacker while he was on the pitch. He forced a great save from Alisson and was a constant threat with his pace and dribbling. It was a surprise to see him substituted.

Elliot Anderson - 8.5: Our man of the match. An absolutely phenomenal, all-action performance. With 12 ball recoveries, eight duels won, and two key passes, he was the engine of his team. He covered every blade of grass and his energy was infectious. A complete midfield performance.

Morgan Gibbs-White - 7.0: The creative spark for Forest as usual. He laid on four key passes for his teammates and was always looking to make something happen. The booking was a slight negative, but his creativity was vital for the home side.

Omari Hutchinson - 7.0: Another bright spark in the Forest attack. He got his shot on target, forcing a save, and looked lively and confident on the ball. He gave the Liverpool defenders plenty to think about before he was taken off.

Forwards

Igor Jesus - 5.5: From our perspective, he was the weak link in an otherwise impressive Forest performance. He struggled to hold onto the ball, being dispossessed four times, and lost the majority of his duels. A difficult afternoon for the forward.

Manager

V. de Oliveira Lopes Pereira - 8.0: He deserves a huge amount of credit for this result. His tactical setup was perfect, frustrating Liverpool completely. His team was organized, disciplined, and played with immense heart. They created better chances and were unlucky not to win the match.

Man of the Match

Alexis Mac Allister was adjudged the man of the match in this Premier League game.

Worst Performer

Curtis Jones was the worst performer from the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool match.