Victor Munoz thumped in a deflected leveller to rescue a point for Liverpool in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest. Andoni Iraola was heading towards defeat in his first Anfield Premier League game in charge of Liverpool when Morgan Gibbs-White converted a debatable penalty with 20 minutes to play. But summer signing Munoz put an otherwise frustrating first appearance in front of his new home fans behind him with an emphatic equaliser.
A first win with Liverpool still remains elusive for Iraola, having seen his side also come from behind to draw 2-2 at Newcastle last weekend. He will hope the seemingly imminent arrival of £120m Bradley Barcola can kickstart their season. Winger Munoz had moved to the right flank just a few minutes before his strike, after Cody Gakpo, who had impressed on that side despite transfer links with Tottenham and Man City, was subbed off.
The Dutchman's low cross through the six-yard box had been tapped in by the otherwise anonymous Alexander Isak earlier in the second half as Liverpool put a poor first 45 behind them. Iraola's side struggled to deal with the direct approach of Forest for much of that opening period, with a long ball from Matz Sels proving their undoing in the build-up to Dan Ndoye's opener. The defending from Liverpool for that goal was poor but Forest boss Oliver Glasner will ultimately rue missed chances in that half, with a stunning stop from Alisson just before half-time to push Igor Jesus' shot onto the bar proving key.
It was an entertaining, action-packed draw - but a frustrating one for both sides, who continue to look for their first league wins of the season. 12: BLOCK! Dan Ndoye nods down Ola Aina's back-post cross but Igor Jesus' attempt to turn it in is blocked by a big stretch from Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet! 19: CLOSE! Ndoye meets James McAtee's cute, clipped cross at the back post but steers his header across goal and wide of the other stick. 24: GOAL!
Ndoye finishes across Alisson after Jesus latches onto a long ball from Matz Sels and feeds Morgan Gibbs-White to find Ndoye in the box. 33: GOAL RULED OUT! Florian Wirtz thinks he's pulled Liverpool level after intercepting a McAtee pass and converting from Jeremie Frimpong's pass - but a VAR check judged Frimpong offside before he made the assist. 39: WHAT A SAVE! Cody Gakpo crosses from the right but Wirtz's good header is tipped over the bar by Sels.
Cody Gakpo - who started and scored last weekend at Newcastle - started again for Liverpool despite doubts over his future at the club.Victor Munoz replaced Rio Ngumoha on the right and Alexis Mac Allister came into midfield for Ryan Gravenberch. 45: OVER! Munoz bends one narrowly over the bar! He had to hit the target. 60: GOAL!
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