Recap

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool: Mac Allister’s Stoppage-Time Drama Snatches Vital Points at the City Ground

In a match defined by resilience, controversy, and a heart-stopping finish, Liverpool secured a scarcely deserved 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on February 22, 2026. Alexis Mac Allister’s 97th-minute strike propelled the Reds level with Champions League contenders Chelsea and Manchester United, while Forest’s valiant display offered hope amid their relegation scrap.

Pre-Match Context: New Managers and High Stakes

Nottingham Forest entered the fray under new boss Vitor Pereira, riding momentum from a midweek 3-0 Europa League win over Fenerbahce in Turkey. Sitting 17th with 27 points, just two above the drop zone, they desperately needed points to climb out of danger. The City Ground atmosphere crackled with anticipation, as fans hoped for a repeat of their recent scoring form.

Liverpool, meanwhile, arrived with Champions League qualification in sight but nursing inconsistency. Manager Arne Slot’s side had struggled to break into the top four, and the pre-match news brought an early blow: forward Florian Wirtz suffered an injury during the warm-up, forcing Curtis Jones into the starting lineup.

First Half: Forest Dominate, Liverpool Flounder

Forest burst out of the blocks, nearly striking gold inside five minutes. Callum Hudson-Odoi latched onto a through ball, beating the offside trap and rounding Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker, only for the ball to bounce off him and out after a desperate save. It set the tone for Forest’s superiority.

• Hudson-Odoi’s early chance highlighted Forest’s pace on the break, with Ibrahim Sangare and Elliot Anderson also testing Liverpool’s shaky defense.
• Liverpool, in white change kits, looked disjointed. Mohamed Salah fizzed a cross too strong for Cody Gakpo at the back post, while Curtis Jones had a goal-bound header blocked on the line by Murillo.
• Elliot Anderson curled just over after Forest swarmed midfield, winning possession high up the pitch. Liverpool’s center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, along with Alisson, were the only standouts in a dismal first half.

Neil Atkinson of The Anfield Wrap described Liverpool’s performance as “genuinely atrocious,” noting that without their backline, the rest of the team “utterly let the side down.” Forest, resurgent under Pereira, outplayed the visitors but lacked the clinical edge to convert dominance into goals.

Second Half: Liverpool Flicker, Forest Push On

The restart saw Forest threaten immediately. Nikola Milenkovic flashed a header just wide from a corner, encapsulating their growing frustration. Liverpool improved marginally around the 54th minute, forcing their first shot on target: Jones nodded Salah’s header goalwards, but Forest keeper Stefan Ortega parried expertly.

Despite this spell, Forest regained control, with Sangare unleashing a rocket just wide and Ola Aina troubling Liverpool’s left flank. The home side, buoyed by the crowd, pressed for a winner, pinning the Reds back.

• Key interventions from Liverpool subs like Rio Ngumoha and Joe Gomez added fresh legs late on, injecting courage into a fatigued side.
• Forest’s new manager bounce was evident in their pressing and transitions, but chances like Hudson-Odoi’s early miss haunted them.

The game remained drab and goalless into the final stages, with both teams toothless in attack. Liverpool had survived rather than shone, while Forest rued their profligacy.

Incredible Stoppage-Time Drama: Mac Allister’s Double Heroics

All hell broke loose in the six minutes of added time. Liverpool first thought they had snatched it when Mac Allister fired home, only for VAR to rule it out for handball—a decision that incensed the Reds.

Undeterred, Liverpool kept pushing. Van Dijk rose highest to head down a corner, and Mac Allister reacted quickest, slamming the rebound into the net in the 97th minute. Ola Aina’s desperate toe-poke off Van Dijk’s effort had kept Mac Allister onside, turning the match on its head.

• The goal sparked chaos: Forest players protested furiously, believing it was daylight robbery after their dominance.
• ESPN called it a “last-gasp win in a dramatic ending,” crediting Liverpool’s persistence despite being “thoroughly outplayed.”
• Highlights footage captured the pandemonium, with Mac Allister wheeling away in celebration as the away end erupted.

Full time: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool. A heartbreaking outcome for the hosts, who can take solace in the performance, but a massive boost for Slot’s men.

Key Players and Performances

Alexis Mac Allister emerged as the match-winner, enduring a VAR-disallowed goal before his decisive rebound. His first Premier League lead goal of the campaign came at the perfect moment, rifling home with composure.

Virgil van Dijk was Liverpool’s rock, assisting the winner with a towering header and anchoring a defense that kept a clean sheet amid constant pressure.

For Forest, Callum Hudson-Odoi dazzled with his early chance and constant threat, while Ibrahim Sangare and Nikola Milenkovic shone in midfield and defense. Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega made crucial stops, including denying Jones.

Curtis Jones filled the Wirtz void admirably, nearly scoring and linking play effectively. Subs Ngumoha and Gomez transformed Liverpool’s second-half energy.

Post-Match Implications and Table Impact

Liverpool climb to sixth on 45 points, level with fourth-placed Chelsea and fifth-placed Manchester United, intensifying the top-four race. Slot praised his team’s half-time adjustments and courage, though acknowledged early wastefulness.

Forest stay 17th on 27 points, two clear of relegation. Pereira’s arrival promises more fight, with this display a platform for survival despite the sting of defeat.

• Attendance and atmosphere at the City Ground amplified the tension, with Forest fans left devastated.
• Slot’s tactical tweaks outdid Pereira’s setup, particularly post-interval.

Lineups underscored the tactical battles: Forest in red (Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo; others including Hudson-Odoi, Anderson); Liverpool featuring Salah, Gakpo, Jones, Mac Allister, Van Dijk.

Reactions and Looking Ahead

Media reactions split along lines: Anfield voices hailed the “miraculous” grit, while neutrals decried Liverpool’s fortune. “Daylight robbery” trended post-half-time, but Mac Allister’s magic flipped narratives.

Forest will regroup for their next fixture, drawing confidence from outplaying a top side. Liverpool target West Ham, where Ngumoha and Gomez demand starts.

This clash encapsulated the Premier League’s unpredictability: a tale of dominance denied, survival instinct rewarded, and stoppage-time sorcery. Mac Allister’s thunderbolt ensures Liverpool’s European dream lives on, while Forest’s resolve burns brighter.