Victor Munoz thumped in a deflected leveller to rescue a point for Liverpool in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Andoni Iraola was heading towards defeat in his first Anfield Premier League game in charge of Liverpool when Morgan Gibbs-White converted a debatable penalty with 20 minutes to play. But summer signing Munoz put an otherwise frustrating first appearance in front of his new home fans behind him with an emphatic equaliser.
A first win with Liverpool still remains elusive for Iraola, having seen his side also come from behind to draw 2-2 at Newcastle last weekend. He will hope the seemingly imminent arrival of £120m Bradley Barcola can kickstart their season.
Winger Munoz had moved to the right flank just a few minutes before his strike, after Cody Gakpo, who had impressed on that side despite transfer links with Tottenham and Man City, was subbed off. The Dutchman’s low cross through the six-yard box had been tapped in by the otherwise anonymous Alexander Isak earlier in the second half as Liverpool put a poor first 45 behind them.
Liverpool’s Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their first goal of the game
Iraola’s side struggled to deal with the direct approach of Forest for much of that opening period, with a long ball from Matz Sels proving their undoing in the build-up to Dan Ndoye’s opener.
Dan Ndoye scores to make it 1-0 to Nottingham Forest
The defending from Liverpool for that goal was poor but Forest boss Oliver Glasner will ultimately rue missed chances in that half, with a stunning stop from Alisson just before half-time to push Igor Jesus’ shot onto the bar proving key.
It was an entertaining, action-packed draw – but a frustrating one for both sides, who continue to look for their first league wins of the season.
More to follow…
The key moments from Anfield
12: BLOCK! Dan Ndoye nods down Ola Aina’s back-post cross but Igor Jesus’ attempt to turn it in is blocked by a big stretch from Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet!
19: CLOSE! Ndoye meets James McAtee’s cute, clipped cross at the back post but steers his header across goal and wide of the other stick.
24: GOAL! Ndoye finishes across Alisson after Jesus latches onto a long ball from Matz Sels and feeds Morgan Gibbs-White to find Ndoye in the box.
33: GOAL RULED OUT! Florian Wirtz thinks he’s pulled Liverpool level after intercepting a McAtee pass and converting from Jeremie Frimpong’s pass – but a VAR check judged Frimpong offside before he made the assist.
39: WHAT A SAVE! Cody Gakpo crosses from the right but Wirtz’s good header is tipped over the bar by Sels.
Gakpo starts despite transfer uncertainty
Cody Gakpo – who started and scored last weekend at Newcastle – started again for Liverpool despite doubts over his future at the club.
Victor Munoz replaced Rio Ngumoha on the right and Alexis Mac Allister came into midfield for Ryan Gravenberch.
45: OVER! Munoz bends one narrowly over the bar! He had to hit the target.
60: GOAL! Alexander Isak taps in Gakpo’s low cross from close range to equalise.
70: GOAL! Gibbs-White sends Alisson the wrong way with a penalty to restore Forest’s lead after the goalkeeper brought down Neco Williams after a quick throw from Liam Delap.
Liverpool’s Victor Munoz scores their side’s second goal of the game
82: GOAL! Munoz thumps in an equaliser off the underside of the bar, with the help of a deflection off Murillo. Wirtz with the pass into him and the assist.
85: CLOSE! Dominik Szoboszlai so close to a free-kick winner but whips his shot past the post.
Gibbs-White delivers again
In 2026, only Bruno Fernandes (4 goals, 14 assists) has been involved in more Premier League goals than Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White (13 goals, 4 assists), with Gibbs-White’s 13 goals the most of any player this calendar year.
Analysis: Was the Forest penalty call correct?
Mike Dean on Soccer Saturday:
“He’s knocked it over the goalkeeper and Alisson has caught him slightly.
“There’s not much else he can do. It’s like a coming together.
“But once it’s given, it’s not going to be overturned because it’s not a clear and obvious error from the referee.”
Clinton Morrison on Soccer Saturday:
“I just thought it was a shot going wide. It’s harsh. I don’t think there’s a lot of contact.
“There’s nothing he can do. He’s coming out to get the ball.”
Hutchinson not involved for Forest
Omari Hutchinson was not in the Forest squad. Sky Italy reported this week that AC Milan are exploring a deal to sign him.
Xaver Schlager started in midfield instead of Ibrahim Sangare, who was not involved at all.
Iraola: First half not good enough
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola to TNT Sports:
“Not the result you want. Two very different halves. We were poor in the first half. Even being unlucky with their goal slightly VAR offside, the goal we score is slightly offside.
“The intensity was different [in the second half]. A lot more intense, a lot more threatening. I was happy with the second half but it was late for winning the game.
“First half has been poor, it’s definitely not good enough. When you go 1-1 the momentum is with you. We concede another one and everything becomes difficult. And we couldn’t finish the comeback.”
Analysis: Will Liverpool cash in on in-form Gakpo?
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:
Cody Gakpo has attracted interest from Tottenham and Man City and with Deadline Day fast approaching his future is far from certain. The impending arrival of Bradley Barcola has also fuelled talk that the Dutchman will be heading for the exit.
But at the same time, Gakpo has been one of Liverpool’s best performers during their stuttering start to the season. He scored at Newcastle last weekend and could have had more. On Saturday he put Isak’s goal on a plate with a sumptuous cross after getting in down the right.
The switch of flanks from his favoured left side didn’t deter him and he was Liverpool’s brightest spark during the first half when they otherwise struggled. That versatility is a trait which is important to Iraola with the way he likes his wingers to operate.
This early-season good form from Gakpo, though, could soon be continued in a different club’s shirt, should Liverpool receive an offer and opt to cash-in before 11pm on Tuesday. His impactful performances could convince his admirers to make their bid.
Glasner: Proud of performance, disappointed with result
Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner:
“Overall the performance was top, especially first half, creating so many chances here at Anfield. I really loved the reaction after we conceded the equaliser, we still played forward and were rewarded with the penalty.
“We feel proud of the performance – but also disappointed with the result. This tells us a lot. A lot of positives to take but still a lot of work to do.”
What the result means and next fixtures…
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