Match Details

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• Liverpool injury update: Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong nearing returns

  Arne Slot’s Liverpool could welcome back star summer signing Florian Wirtz and defender Jeremie Frimpong for Saturday’s match against West Ham, providing a vital lift to their Champions League qualification hopes. ​Liverpool manager Arne Slot is hopeful of welcoming back key players for Saturday’s crucial Anfield fixture against West Ham. Florian Wirtz, a £100 million signing, could make a swift return after being withdrawn late from the Nottingham Forest lineup. Additionally, Jeremie Frimpong is expected back in training following a groin injury. Slot admitted that securing a Champions League berth “will be an acceptable season.” ​While the return of Wirtz and Frimpong is promising, several long-term absentees remain sidelined. Record signing Alexander Isak is running on grass but remains weeks away from full training, while Wataru Endo and Jayden Danns are targeting April returns. Crucial defenders Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are both ruled out until pre-season, leaving Slot to navigate the final eleven games with a rotating squad.

• Noni Madueke hails Forest’s Ola Aina as toughest Premier League opponent

  Arsenal winger Noni Madueke has lauded Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina as his most difficult full-back opponent, citing the Nigerian international’s exceptional speed, strength, and technical ability on the ball.

  ​Arsenal star Noni Madueke has identified Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina as his toughest Premier League opponent.

  Speaking to TNT Sports, the winger praised Aina’s physical and technical attributes following their recent top-flight encounters.

  Madueke stated: “I’m going to give Ola Aina his flowers. I’ve played against him a few times; he’s quick, he’s good on the ball, he’s always tough, mad strong too.”

  ​Aina, who joined Forest on a free transfer from Torino in 2023, has become a vital component of the club’s defensive unit.

  Despite Forest’s ongoing struggle against relegation, the Nigerian’s performances have caught the eye of the league’s elite.

  Madueke’s high praise underscores Aina’s quality, highlighting him as a player Forest may struggle to retain should they fail to maintain their Premier League status.

• Ex Liverpool stars make same Liverpool demand as Rio Ferdinand wades in

  Liverpool legends Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge have called for 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha to be handed his full Premier League debut after his game-changing cameo secured a vital 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

  ​Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge have urged Arne Slot to start teenager Rio Ngumoha following his sensational impact against Nottingham Forest.

  Despite the victory, more senior stars struggled, prompting Carragher to tell Sky Sports: “Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did before that.

  He changed the game and needs to be starting games.” The win keeps Liverpool firmly in the Champions League hunt.

  ​The youngster’s performance even earned praise from former rival Rio Ferdinand, who lauded his “speed and finesse.”

  Sturridge echoed these sentiments on social media, noting the winger’s directness and bravery.

  He wrote: “Every time I watch Rio Ngumoha, he looks electric. Direct, fearless, always trying to affect the game. He deserves more minutes. Simple as that.”

  Liverpool face West Ham and Wolves in their next two fixtures.

• Dermot Gallagher disagrees with outlandish ‘corrupt’ verdict amid Nottingham Forest row

  Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has defended the officiating in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, dismissing claims of corruption following two controversial VAR decisions.

  ​Dermot Gallagher has backed the decision to disallow Alexis Mac Allister’s initial effort for handball, despite former Liverpool striker John Aldridge branding the call “corrupt.”

  Gallagher explained that the current laws leave no room for interpretation when the ball enters the net off an arm.

  He told Sky Sports: “It [the law] was [correctly applied]… the minute the VAR sees that it’s going to be handball.”

  ​Gallagher also addressed frustrations regarding Liverpool’s winning goal, which came deep into stoppage time.

  He argued the extended time was a “justifiable extension” due to earlier VAR delays.

  Regarding Forest’s offside complaints, he praised the officials’ technical handling of the phase, noting: “I actually think it’s better now… it’s the most technical law of all, isn’t it, offside?”

• Player Ratings: Alexis Mac Allister’s late winner rescues Liverpool in 5 rated performances

  Liverpool escaped the City Ground with a 1-0 win thanks to a 97th-minute Mac Allister goal, overcoming a disjointed performance to stay alive in the hunt for Champions League football.

  Liverpool managed to snatch a dramatic win seven minutes into added time, overcoming a stubborn Nottingham Forest side through an Alexis Mac Allister strike.

  In a match that appeared destined for a stalemate after a disallowed VAR goal, the Argentine midfielder found the net from close range, keeping Arne Slot’s top-four ambitions firmly on track despite a largely sluggish collective performance.

  ​Liverpool Player Ratings 

  ​Alisson – 5

  The Brazilian shot-stopper began the match with a sharp save to deny Callum Hudson-Odoi, maintaining his trademark reliability in standard goal-tending. However, his distribution was uncharacteristically erratic, and he looked vulnerable under high balls, nearly gifting Forest an opening late in the game.

  ​Dominik Szoboszlai – 6

  Starting in an unfamiliar right-back role, the Hungarian looked out of his element early on. A tactical shift to the midfield after 30 minutes saw his performance stabilize; while he lacked his usual explosive impact, his composure and late delivery ultimately provided the cross that sparked the winning goal.

  ​Ibrahima Konate – 8

  Standing out as the most dominant figure on the pitch, Konate was a physical titan. He won nearly every aerial duel and acted as a “one-man wall” to frustrate the Forest attack, though a few clumsy fouls in the second half were the only minor blemishes on a Man of the Match display.

  ​Virgil van Dijk – 5

  It was a disjointed afternoon for the captain, who struggled with unforced errors and poor passing early on. He did recover to make a vital interception against Igor Jesus, and his contribution to the final sequence earned him the technical assist for the winning goal.

  ​Milos Kerkez – 6

  The defender put in a tenacious shift, successfully neutralizing the threat of Omari Hutchinson for much of the game. While he was one of the more consistent performers in terms of effort and defensive positioning, his contribution going forward left much to be desired.

  ​Ryan Gravenberch – 3

  A disappointing outing for the Dutchman, who seemed overwhelmed by the intensity of the midfield battle. He was frequently careless in possession and failed to provide the control or transition play Liverpool required, leading to a very low impact on the game.

  ​Alexis Mac Allister – 5

  For the vast majority of the match, Mac Allister struggled, losing individual duels and failing to dictate the tempo. However, he redeemed an otherwise poor performance by being in the right place at the right time to slot home the winner just moments after having another goal chalked off.

  ​Mohamed Salah – 3

  This was a performance to forget for the Egyptian forward, who looked remarkably wasteful. He struggled to beat his marker, overhit crucial crosses, and lacked his usual clinical edge, leaving the pitch with a surprising smile despite his ineffective contribution.

  ​Curtis Jones – 4

  A late inclusion following an injury to Florian Wirtz, Jones never quite found his rhythm. He was physically outmatched at times and surrendered possession too easily, and although he forced a good save from Ortega, it wasn’t enough to mask a difficult afternoon.

  ​Cody Gakpo – 4

  While he showed slightly more intent than his attacking counterparts, Gakpo still failed to truly threaten. He provided one dangerous ball for Salah, but he generally struggled to break down the Forest defense before being substituted late in the second half.

  ​Hugo Ekitike – 3

  The Frenchman had a largely anonymous game, failing to capitalize on the few opportunities that came his way. His struggles were capped off by a wasted chance in the dying seconds, where he headed a golden opportunity directly at the goalkeeper instead of finding the corner.

  ​Substitutes of Note

  ​Rio Ngumoha – 7

  Coming on for Salah in the 77th minute, the youngster provided an immediate spark. He looked far more dangerous than the players he replaced, delivering a brilliant cross that should have been converted, and made a strong case for more regular playing time.