- Chris Wood's good season continued with his 13th goal of the campaign for Forest
- Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas combined from the bench to tie the Reds
- LISTEN It's all starting! Why Manchester United might have to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho
If there is a more intoxicating and seductive place to watch Premier League football than the City Ground this season, then it must have been hidden away.
Once again a packed crowd witnessed another night carved in the great traditions of Nottingham Forest. The Garibaldi red-clad team fights upward, steadfastly refusing to give in to expectations or hierarchy. A certain old guy in an old green sweater would have loved it.
The Nuno Espirito Santo Forest could not do it this time. They couldn't turn six league wins in a row into seven. Indeed, in the end, Forest held out, clinging to imaginary branches as a Liverpool tidal wave swept over them. At the end of the match, their goalkeeper Matz Sels presented himself as their best player.
But at the same time this was a scare for Liverpool. Forest's rope-to-dope tactics had given them an early lead when their centre-forward Chris Wood broke away to score. League leaders Liverpool were baffled. They were insecure and anxious. Lots and lots of possession (71 percent of it at full time), but for the first hour at least not a single shot on goal.
Substitute Diogo Jota changed that within 22 seconds of coming on. His header from a corner equalized the score. And after that it was all Liverpool.
Jota could have scored a hat-trick but Sels denied him. The Belgian, Forest's fourth choice in last January's transfer market, pulled the same trick on Mo Salah, while the Egyptian great was also denied by Ola Aina's clearance off the line.
Diogo Jota scored 22 seconds after entering the field and Liverpool's substitutes rescued a point.
Chris Wood's 13th goal of the season put Nottingham Forest ahead early in the tie.
It was fractured, it was compelling, and, frankly, it was great theater. Liverpool, sweeping most of what comes their way this season, have taken just one point from two games against Forest and that says it all.
There is no secret to how Forest plays. They've been doing it all season. Possession means nothing to Nuno's team. What matters is what they do when they have the ball.
The first eight minutes of the game summed it up perfectly. Liverpool had the whole game during that time. Forest just sat to the side and didn't try to participate.
Slot's team looked comfortable and progressive and could even have scored twice as they shot from distance and then Ryan Gravenberch took advantage of a short pass from Mo Salah and shot over the bar from 12 meters when he should have at least worked with the goalkeeper .
If you had arrived from another planet, you may have wondered what this was all about. A two-team match in which only one really plays. And then, on their first foray into Liverpool's defensive third, Forest scored.
The conception of the goal was at the halfway point, where Callum Hudson-Odoi, scorer of the goal when Forest won at Anfield earlier in the autumn, won a tussle with Salah. After that, Anthony Elanga fed Wood through the middle and the New Zealander escaped Virgil van Dijk to slide a shot over Alisson Becker and into the far corner.
It was classic Bosque. A classic counter. From Liverpool's point of view, it was a terrible goal. Van Dijk moved three yards behind his defensive colleagues by playing with Wood on the right side, while Alisson was too close to his near post. He made it easier for the then scorer.
But the City Ground were aware of the possibility of another big victory and Liverpool's task was clear.
The City Ground once again delivered a fantastic football match on Tuesday night
The rest of the first half followed a similar pattern. In the end, Forest enjoyed only 29 percent of the ball. Liverpool, however, had appeared toothless and quite anxious. The goal had scared them. They lacked patience and conviction in attacking zones and therefore made too many bad decisions.
There were a few brief flashes of light. A header from Cody Gakpo and another from Dominik Szoboszlai at the far post where a challenge from Neco Williams ensured that the Forest goal was not breached.
Luis Diaz then broke away in the 35th minute, but delayed what appeared to be a simple pass to Gakpo and Forest defender Murillo was able to intercept.
Forest were actually the more threatening team when they attacked. His energy and sharpness bothered the Liverpool defense and Slot's team went into half-time with their problems resolved. How to prevail more convincingly over your opponents without leaving the back door open.
MORE TO FOLLOW.