Match reportIsak and Munoz score as Liverpool draw with Nottingham Forest
Alexander Isak and Victor Munoz were both on target as Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime.
Andoni Iraola’s team twice came from behind in the Premier League fixture at Anfield to claim a point.
Dan Ndoye opened the scoring for Forest in the opening half and Isak’s strike on the hour brought the Reds level for the first time.
A Morgan Gibbs-White penalty was then equalised courtesy of Munoz’s first goal for the club in the final 10 minutes.
Team
Munoz was handed a full debut for Liverpool in one of two changes made by Iraola.
Alexis Mac Allister also came into the team as Ryan Gravenberch and Rio Ngumoha made way.
Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Jacquet (Araujo, 77), Kerkez (Tsimikas, 71), Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, Mac Allister (Nyoni, 77), Gakpo (Ngumoha, 71), Munoz, Frimpong (Gravenberch, 71).
Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, McConnell, Koumas.
First half
A defence-splitting pass from Mac Allister signalled the first action of the afternoon as he found the run of Cody Gakpo in the box.
Forest full-back Neco Williams, however, intervened to halt the chance with a well-timed sliding tackle before the winger could get a shot away.
The contest continued at pace with end-to-end attacks, and it was Forest who forced the better of the early chances.
Jeremy Jacquet was forced to produce a challenge at the vital moment after Ola Aina’s deep ball into the box was knocked back to Igor Jesus inside the six-yard area.
The visiting striker then saw a shot blocked by the retreating Milos Kerkez, while Ndoye headed a James McAtee cross wide of the mark.
But the same Forest man was on target before the half-hour as he opened the scoring with a clever finish past goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
A long ball forward was brought down by Forest and spread wide ahead for Ndoye to advance into the area and strike low.
Liverpool responded with pressure and thought they had levelled through Florian Wirtz a short while later.
The No.7 had the ball in the net thanks to a clever turn and finish into the bottom corner from inside the area, though Jeremie Frimpong - who had bundled the ball through to his teammate - was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up upon review.
Ahead of the half-time break, Wirtz again went close, this time forcing stopper Matz Sels into action with a push over the bar from a swinging Gakpo cross.
Munoz also saw a high shot fly inches past the post after more good work from Gakpo on the right to beat a man and deliver low across the box.
At the opposite end, Alisson reacted with a fine diving save to his left to stop Forest doubling the lead, with Aina’s cutback finding Jesus around the penalty spot to leave the striker to shoot at goal.
Second half
Liverpool started on the front foot after the change of ends as they looked to level the contest quickly.
Their pressure was met by an impressive Forest defence, who held firm and limited any clear opportunities for the home side in the early exchanges.
The Reds, however, found a way back onto level terms on the hour thanks to a brilliant turn and cross from Gakpo on the right flank.
The winger was sent on his way by Wirtz as he spun two defenders to deliver a low ball across the six-yard box for Isak to tap home at the back post.
Liverpool continued to dominate the ball, but the next major moment came for the visitors with 20 minutes remaining.
Forest substitute Liam Delap took a quick throw-in from the left, which allowed Williams to advance into the Reds penalty area.
The defender got to the ball and flicked a shot goalwards, though the onrushing Alisson was found to have taken him down and a penalty awarded.
Visiting captain Gibbs-White stepped up to duly convert from 12 yards and restore Forest’s one-goal advantage from the spot.
Iraola responded with a number of substitutes as Liverpool looked to find another levelling goal in the game.
However, it was two players already on the pitch who combined to find a second equaliser with eight minutes remaining.
Wirtz slipped a pass into the feet of Munoz on the right side of the box, with the forward spinning and striking an effort into the back of the net via a slight deflection and the underside of the bar.
The Reds then searched for an all-important winner and Dominik Szoboszlai whistled a free kick past the far post, though they were forced to settle for a point.
Attendance: 60,415