Liverpool

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Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is "getting back to his usual level", says boss Arne Slot.

Mac Allister scored deep into injury time against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday to secure three crucial points in the Reds' race for Champions League places.

With Liverpool having what Slot believed was one of their worst performances of the season in the first half, the Argentina international pounced on a loose ball from close range with virtually the last kick of the game, minutes after he saw a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee for handball.

"I think what he needed is what he showed in the last six, seven or eight games - a run of games where he's getting back to his usual level that he showed so many times last season," Slot said.

"And he had that level also in the first half of the season but it went a bit with ups and downs, as the team went in terms of performances with ups and downs.

"But I see much more consistency recently - not only in Macca's performance but in the team performance and many individual performances. But I think it's always nice for a player to score, especially if it's in extra time of extra time."

Captain Virgil van Dijk, who had initially looked to be offside in the build up to Mac Allister's goal before VAR confirmed he was onside, feels the late win showed the team's improving resilience.

"When the goal is disallowed, the momentum shifts and the [Forest] fans are fully behind it, they may believe this is the opportunity to bounce back after a little bit of disappointment they had," he said.

"But I think we did well, we created the chaos with the throw-ins we had and we managed to score the winner.

"I think the resilience has definitely been questioned at times this season but I think [against Forest], and the last couple of games especially, we have shown a consistency in everything we do, apart from the first half. But like I say, football is not 45 minutes, it is 90-plus minutes and that showed [on Sunday]."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Samantha: Daylight robbery. Liverpool were there for the taking, but nevermind - chin up and keep playing the same way. We didn't deserve that at all.

Shaun: Forest should have had it wrapped up by half-time as we made them look ordinary in that half. In the second half, Liverpool grew into the game and Forest grew frustrated by their lack of finishing after their good work. By the end of normal time in the second half, a draw was deserved. If Forest keep their form over the past two games up we will be a Premier League side next season.

Dave: Only Wolves have scored fewer goals than Forest - and if you cannot score goals, you do not win games. We should have hammered Wolves and should have beaten a poor Liverpool side. The problem is that you don't get points for should haves.

Fosi: We played well, but everyone knew we needed a couple of quality strikers? What did Edu get us? Not good enough quality and he has no idea of a good player. It is costing us so much. Can we survive?

Liverpool fans

Dave: A real case of daylight robbery. Liverpool couldn't keep the ball in the first half and only improved slightly in the second half. I struggle to see any real system in build-up play. We were very lucky to take the three points but we'll take them!

Paul: Absolutely shocking first-half performance against the fourth-bottom team. How on earth we could not be up for this is beyond words. We should have been battling for our lives out there but, again, no desire, energy or skill. No idea why Mohamed Salah was grinning like a Cheshire cat on the bench after being subbed - just not a good look. That said, I'm not going to complain about the three points and I suspect losing Florian Wirtz affected the gameplan. I just hope Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike can find some form. Rio Ngumoha should be given more minutes.

Josh: Just a bang average side turning out mediocre performances against one of the worst teams in the league. Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards have a lot of questions to answer.

James: A superb result but a very, very poor performance. I really hope the manager and the players can see past the result and realise that was nowhere near good enough and up their game. We will lose 95% of games when delivering a performance like that.

Aadam Patel
Football reporter

Carnage would be an understatement to describe the closing moments of Liverpool's victory at the City Ground, but it would not be over the top to call the win a heist - one that puts Arne Slot's side firmly in the Champions League hunt.

The fact that Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira said he was "angry with football" summed it up. The hosts did not deserve to lose.

For large parts of the afternoon, the home fans chanted "in your head, in your head, Arne, Arne, Arne" to the tune of Zombie by The Cranberries, as Pereira's side dominated the defending champions.

Before Sunday, Slot had failed to beat Forest in any of his previous three attempts as Liverpool boss.

Yet as the Liverpool players made their way to the away end after snatching a remarkable victory through Alexis Mac Allister, the same chant came from the travelling support, who could hardly believe their luck.

Liverpool were dull for most parts but deserve praise for their resilience and the importance of Mac Allister's 97th-minute winner cannot be overestimated in the sense that it took Liverpool level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United, in fourth and fifth.

Credit is due to the Argentine, who found himself in the right place at the right time on two instances late on.

The first was his disallowed goal that came after Stefan Ortega had made a great save to deny Hugo Ekitike. As Ola Aina tried to clear the ball, it hit Mac Allister and flew into the net.

But what would have been a fortuitous goal was chalked off because the ball was deemed to have hit his elbow, which was tight to his body.

"It hit my back and my elbow. I understand the rule but if you understand football, that goal should have stood," Mac Allister told BBC Sport.

"The first half wasn't good at all; positioning, pressing, intensity. It was not our standard. The second half, I wouldn't say it was good, but it was better," he added.

For Slot, who has regularly insisted that Liverpool have been unfortunate on many occasions this season, there was an acceptance his side had finally got the rub of the green.

"My emotions were emotions of happiness and relief because this is the first time I have to do a different post match press conference," said Slot.

"We did not play a good game. We have been on the wrong side of the score after a good performance too many times.

"We got more than we deserved. A draw would have been a fair result. We needed to be on the right side of things once in a while. It felt we have been lucky."

Read more analysis here

Liverpool's hopes of signing Roma defender Zeki Celik have been boosted after his agent dismissed the prospect of the 29-year-old Turkey international joining Juventus. (Mirror), external

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Pundits Danny Murphy and Shay Given join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Sunderland 1-3 Fulham

• Crystal Palace 1-0 Wolves

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool

• Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal

Aadam Patel
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

For most of the opening period Liverpool struggled to get out of their own half. The late blow to Florian Wirtz certainly didn't help as Liverpool's rotten injury luck continued but the absence of one player should not have such a seismic impact.

In came Curtis Jones for Wirtz, with Dominik Szoboszlai starting at right-back but it took just half an hour for Arne Slot to switch the pair around. Liverpool have had their struggles this season and this display was among the worst.

"In your head, Arne, Arne Arne" was the chant from the Forest fans in reference to Slot's failure to beat Forest before today but by full time, that was the chant from the travelling supporters after their side pulled off a heist.

Liverpool have hardly been short of late drama this season, conceding four winners after the 90th minute and Alexis Mac Allister's goal wasn't even their latest goal of the season. Rio Ngumoha's 100th-minute winner at Newcastle holds that record.

And Ngumoha deserves credit in this win after he was introduced for Mohamed Salah, who now hasn't scored in his past nine Premier League games.

Ngumoha looked lively and probed down the right, putting in the dangerous cross that eventually led to Mac Allister's disallowed goal.

Hit play below to hear Slot's reaction to the game, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was fine margins. We really struggled in the first half. We were the lucky ones scoring in the extra time.

On the disallowed goal: "I have to see it back to judge if it's the right decision. The offside or onside is factual.

"In the first half, the only part I liked was the defending in our box. We showed a different Liverpool in the second half. We tried to bring fresh wingers in and that led to our first disallowed goal. Joe Gomez brought the long throw in.

"I have seen us defending poorer in our own box this season. That might be down to the quality of Forest. I am surprised by the league position they are in. We did not give away many big chances but we gave the ball away every time.

"I have to change my line-up constantly, not so late this time. Florian is in great shape and Curtis Jones played well last week against Brighton."

Hear more from Slot on BBC Sounds

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, speaking to BBC Sport about the disallowed goal: "It hit my back and my elbow. I understand the rule but if you understand football, that goal should have stood.

"I told Hugo it would be a goal and one or two minutes later, it was. I'm very glad it was me.

"It doesn't feel nice in the moment but it is what it is. VAR is a good tool if you look at the mistakes the referees used to make. We need to waste these seconds or minutes because it's best for football.

"The first half wasn't good at all; positioning, pressing, intensity. It was not our standard. The second half, I wouldn't say it was good but it was better.

"We knew it would be a tough game because they are good at set pieces and they have really good players. It's always tough to come here."

Hit play below to hear more from Mac Allister or listen on BBC Sounds here

Did you know?

• Mac Allister scored his first Premier League goal since April 2025 against Tottenham Hotspur, ending a run of 27 league appearances without scoring.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Forest's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Vitor Pereira names an unchanged Nottingham Forest side from the team that won at Fenerbahce in Turkey on Thursday.

Nottingham Forest XI: Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Jesus

Subs: Gunn, Morato, Ndoye, Dominguez, Lucca, Yates, Cunha, McAtee, Bakwa

Arne Slot makes two changes from the side that beat Brighton in the FA Cup, with Ryan Gravenberch coming in for Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo replacing Federico Chiesa.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

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• Nottingham Forest v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sunderland v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

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When Vítor Pereira went in as Wolves manager in December 2024, he did brilliantly to keep them up - but he has essentially taken them down this season, picking up only two points from 10 games before he was sacked.

Now he has arrived at Forest as their fourth manager of the season.

I don't think his predecessor, Sean Dyche, deserved the sack. Based on the results in his 18 games in charge, Forest would be 12th in the table, but we are used to seeing managerial changes at the City Ground now.

We know Pereira will try to keep things tight, but Forest's biggest issue throughout this campaign has been scoring goals and I am not sure they will be able to get at Liverpool.

Arne Slot's side became the first team to win at the Stadium of Light when they edged out Sunderland in their last league game, and I can see a similar outcome here.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest supporters will see a fourth new face in the City Ground dugout this season when they welcome Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday (14:00 GMT).

After making his Forest managerial bow in the Europa League on Thursday at Fenerbahce - an impressive 3-0 win - Vitor Pereira will take charge of his first league fixture with the club this weekend. The nature of Forest's managerial changes – not to mention their perilous league position – means he will need to hit the ground running.

They welcome a Liverpool side who have shown some positive signs recently after back-to-back wins. A top-five finish, and what should be Champions League football next season, remains their Premier League aim after a limp title defence.

Fourth time lucky for Forest?

Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Pereira will be quiz-question answers for years to come. For the first time in the Premier League, a team will have had four permanent managers in a single season; there are still 12 games of the top-flight campaign to go too.

Pereira's aggressive, attacking brand of football represents another tactical U-turn for Forest and it will be intriguing to see how quickly he can get his ideas across, especially a three-man defence set-up that will be unfamiliar for the current squad.

When he took charge at Wolves last season it did not take long, winning 10 of his first 22 games. But this year the wheels fell off, with Wolves only taking two points from 10 games before Pereira was sacked.

If he were to secure a huge win, it would snap a worrying trend from a Forest perspective. The last manager to win his first Premier League game in charge was Dave Bassett in 1997; all six since have lost their openers in the competition.

Dom delivering for Liverpool

Liverpool have next to no hope of retaining their Premier League title, but with the FA Cup and Champions League still up for grabs, they seem to be coming to the boil at the perfect time.

Last time out in the Premier League, they won at Sunderland – becoming the first team to triumph at the Stadium of Light this season – and then they dispatched Brighton in the FA Cup last weekend.

There is no doubt that their standout player this season has been Dominik Szoboszlai, who was on the scoresheet again against the Seagulls. He now has five goals and two assists in his last eight games in all competitions.

Should he line up in midfield – the Hungarian has been deployed at right-back on a number of occasions this season – his battle with Elliot Anderson will be vital in determining the outcome of the contest.

Liverpool do not have many happy recent memories against their Nottingham opponents, though. Forest have not lost any of the last three meetings between the two teams – the most recent a 3-0 win at Anfield – and the Reds have won just one of their last 15 visits to the City Ground.

Josh Sexton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Having a local heart of the team is important.

In a world where football clubs have become multi-billion-pound enterprises, there needs to be something that anchors these organisations to their area, besides the location of their stadium.

Think of previous generations of your favourite team and who you consider to be its biggest and best legends, and most Premier League clubs will side with the lads from the local area.

Think too of the next generation, who want to know they have a chance of playing for the side they support one day, and can see somebody who kicked a football around the same streets that they do pulling on that shirt at the highest level.

It's why some fans have shuddered recently at the idea of comparisons between Dominik Szoboszlai and Steven Gerrard.

Applying logic alone, they are both all-action, versatile midfielders, with a penchant for attacking and supreme technique combined with running power and work rate.

Applying sentiment, though, paints the lad supposedly dreaming of playing for Real Madrid one day in a totally different light than the legend who spent his best years at his boyhood club.

That's not to do down Szoboszlai, who is increasingly becoming every bit a leader and superstar with every sweeping run and screamer at Anfield, more to signify how important figures like Gerrard are to their local areas.

Which brings us to Curtis Jones, a player who was surprisingly linked away from Liverpool during a strange January transfer window for the club.

Applying logic alone, the 25-year-old needs game time and has shown such progression that surely the next step for his career is to go somewhere he can display that as a starter on a more regular basis than under Arne Slot.

Applying sentiment, though, means the lad born on an estate within Liverpool's city centre, who loves the club dearly and has spoken so candidly time and again about how much the down moments of this season have hurt him personally, does deserve to be viewed in a different light.

Because Jones is not only of the utmost importance to local lads aspiring to play for the Reds one day, he's also important to this current side, as a starting-level midfielder who provides something a little different to what any of his teammates can bring as a rotational player.

Possessing versatility, supreme technique, and a calm head when the moment demands is something that a heavily-injured, maligned, and under-pressure Liverpool side cannot afford to sniff at.

They also cannot simply throw money at replacing such a skillset. Because the truth is that Jones can not only save Liverpool some pennies, he's priceless.

Find more from Josh Sexton on outlets including The Anfield Wrap, external

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We asked for your views on whether Dominik Szoboszlai would make a good Liverpool captain one day.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: Yes, Dom probably is the logical choice as the next Reds captain, but not just yet. Virgil is still the man.

Brian: Definitely. He would lead by example, best player by far this season. He's got experience as well as he captains his country.

Rob: 100%! He has plenty of experience being the captain of Hungary. He has been our best player by a mile so far and he is very comfortable on and off the ball. We have to be prepared for Van Dijk to pass on the baton and find a suitable skipper to take over when needed. Especially if Robertson were to leave then I don't see any current competitors in the squad that are more fit for the role than Szoboszlai.

David: He should already be captain.

Jack: Szoboszlai is a fantastic leader. And he's still fairly young, so to imagine what he'll be like in a few years time is something to be excited about. He's already captain of his national team and he has been doing a fantastic job. The only other player I'd love to see as the captain is Curtis Jones as he's got that Scouse mentality that we need in the team.

Dax: "The guy is a colossus!" That's what we said about Virgil van Dijk when he joined Liverpool. Szoboszlai is no different. He is literally the driving force behind Liverpool being where they are. Elements of Steven Gerard, Billy Liddell and Steve Nicol are in him. He gets everywhere, is powerful on the ball and can score from anywhere. He can lead by example making him a future Liverpool captain for many years.

Seb: I think that he will be our next captain, and maybe our vice captain for next season after his performance this year. If he does become captain, then he will be different to Van Dijk and not be as vocal but lead more by example. He has shown that he can help the team through hard times and this is what good captains do. In the near future I definitely see him being the next captain.

Benjamin: Next season, the club should make Dominik vice captain so when the time comes he will be ready to step up then take the captaincy from Van Dijk.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport vlogger Chloe Bloxam says Dominik Szoboszlai is captain material in her video below.

Do you agree? Will he one day wear the armband?

Get in touch with your views here

Chloe Bloxam
Fan contributor

Dominik Szoboszlai has been absolutely brilliant for Liverpool this season, he's been the heart and soul of this Liverpool side.

Everything good from a Liverpool perspective feels like it's got his fingerprints all over it. He's become our talisman, he's become our leader on the pitch and he sets the standards week in, week out of what is expected from the lads in red.

Szoboszlai has become the reason why Liverpool have a little bit of hope this season. He really has become a leader. I knew he had these leadership skills because he's a Hungary captain.

However, doing it for Liverpool on the bigger stage is a different thing and I truly believe that he could become one of Liverpool's captains in the future and it is so important that the club tie down his future and make sure it's at Anfield because he's the type of player that we just cannot lose. His best years are yet to come and if he can keep this consistency and he can grow on what he is, he will become a superstar.

He will become one of the world's best in his position and it really is important that Liverpool tie him down because there are obvious rumours right now around the likes of Real Madrid being interested.

Szoboszlai needs to make sure that he stays at Anfield. Hopefully he does because I truly believe he can become the next Liverpool captain.

Find more from Chloe Bloxam at The Redmen TV, external

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Liverpool fan Jim Boardman from Anfield Index says the Reds seem less vulnerable from set pieces after a dire start to the season from dead balls.

Liverpool have now scored five goals from set pieces in their last four Premier League games, an improvement from their problems at dead-ball situations at the beginning of the season, which saw their former set-piece coach Aaron Briggs leave the club in December.

"Whatever's changed, it's changed in the right way, and we don't seem to be as vulnerable at set-pieces as we were before", Boardman told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"We were bad in both ways, couldn't score from them, couldn't defend them but at last that seems to be turning around.

"The way the game is now, set pieces do seem like the key.

"One thing that was interesting after the change in coach was that Dominik Szoboszlai said he sat with the analyst, or that he'd done his homework on positioning and things, and that had helped him get more success with free-kicks."

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Aadam Patel
Football reporter

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Those who see Dominik Szoboszlai on a daily basis at Liverpool describe him as highly competitive with a clear desire to excel.

Szoboszlai is regularly among the first to arrive at training and it's no surprise he's high up in terms of the club's running and physical stats. No Liverpool player has covered more distance this season.

In a recent video on Liverpool's channels, Milos Kerkez - who plays with him for club and country - said Szoboszlai would be a 400m runner if he wasn't a footballer.

"He could jog from Liverpool to Hungary and not get tired," joked left-back Kerkez.

Szoboszlai is a man determined in his own right, but Mohamed Salah's high standards are understood to have a big influence on him. Away from football, the pair enjoy playing backgammon and often hang out together at each other's houses.

When he was described as "disrespectful" last month by Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane for attempting a backheel in his own box that led to a mistake and goal for the League One side, Szoboszlai spoke up to defend himself.

Privately, manager Arne Slot had a word too.

Szoboszlai's prime years are ahead of him. He was handed the national team captaincy at 22 and Liverpool view him as a future skipper, just like Steven Gerrard.

With vice-captain Andy Robertson expected to depart this summer and Virgil van Dijk's deal expiring in 2027, the possibility is certainly there.

Read more on Szobozslai's growth here

Newcastle's England winger Anthony Gordon, 24, says he will not let transfer speculation affect him after being linked with Liverpool and Arsenal. (Sun), external

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Alexander Isak could be back in contention for selection at Liverpool by the end of March, says manager Arne Slot.

Isak has been ruled out since December with a leg fracture and having had ankle surgery.

Liverpool's record signing - in a deal for £125m during the summer - has managed just 16 appearances for the Reds.

"Alex has been on the pitch, not with his football boots but with his running shoes for the first time this week," Slot said on Thursday.

"The next step is doing work with the ball, which every player likes most, then the next step is to come into the group - and then it takes a while before you're ready to play.

"It will be some time around end of March or start of April when he is hopefully back with the group. That is not to say you are ready to play, let alone start a game.

"But it's nice that rehab goes well; that's a compliment to him and our medical staff.

"We all know the moment you go on the pitch it doesn't take three months, but these final stages of rehab can also make it change."

Slot explained Jeremie Frimpong - recently sidelined with a hamstring issue - could return for next weekend's visit of West Ham to Anfield.