Liverpool have suffered a shock defeat against struggling Nottingham Forest after Awoniyi slots home a 55th-minute winner to secure all three points against the Merseyside club.
Starting Lineup
Nottinghanm Forest
Henderson; Aurier, Cook, McKenna, Williams; Yates(C), Freuler, Kouyaté; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi, Lingard.
Liverpool
Alisson; Milner(C), Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Jones; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Fábio Carvalho.
Liverpool went into the game confidently, having humbled Pep Guardiola’s high-flying Manchester City side to end their unbeaten run this season.
Nottingham Forest has struggled and were bound in the relegation waters.
The Reds grabbed the game and dominated the possession as they searched for an early goal.
The first chance of the game came in the 9th minute when Elliot cut in from the right and delivered a perfect pass to Carvalho, who sublimely brought it down for a close-range shot which deflected off Henderson for a corner kick.
The corner was taken, but it was cleared by the Nottingham Forest defense.
Liverpool continued to dominate the game, but Nottingham Forests were equally making inroads into through the middle and flanks with threatening counter-attacks.
There was a chance for the hosts in the 19th minute.
Virgil van Dijk lost the ball, and former Manchester United and England star Jesse Lingard quickly picked it up.
He charged down the right flank and sent it across to Awoniyi, who located Kouyate, but Alisson comfortably saved his effort.
Liverpool were still in charge, as they dominated possession and pushed back the hosts to the box for the most part of the first half.
Salah’s strike was blocked by Mckenna in the 20th minute, while Carvalho’s close header in the 23rd minute was wide off the crossbar.
Liverpool had another great chance in the 38th minute. Milner arcs in a cross that meets Van Dijk with a good free header, but it was off target.
The Reds had a lot of chances but were unable to convert them as the first half finally ended on a barren note.
Liverpool dominated in the second half of play but were still jittery when Nottingham Forest launched an attack.
Liverpool defender Gomez was booked in the 54th minute after he dragged back Taiwo Awoniyi, who had paced pass him.
A minute after the booking, Awoniyi got a surprise opener for Nottingham Forest.
It was a perfect moment for Forest. Williams’ freekick meets Cook on the right flank, who sends it to Awoniyi in the middle.
The Nigeria international fired on the post. It hits the post and bounces back.
Awoniyi quickly picked his pace pass the sluggish Liverpool defense to slot home the rebound again.
Nottingham Forest took a surprise 1-0 lead, despite playing second fiddle to their hosts in ball possession and the number of created chances.
Liverpool ramped up attempts to find an equalizer after trailing their opponents by a lone goal.
They mounted heavy pressure on the host, all to no avail. A desperate Jurgen Klopp made some changes to turn things around, but Forests continued to hold on till late into the second half.
The game finally ended with Jurgen Klopp suffering his third Premier League defeat this season against a struggling and less-fancied Nottingham Forest.
