Jota salvages a point for Liverpool at Forest
Diogo Jota came off the bench to spare Liverpool's blushes as the Premier League leader earned a potentially crucial point in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at The City Ground.
Forest entered the game on a seven-match winning run in all competitions and as the only team to have beaten Liverpool in league action this term, winning 1-0 at Anfield in September.
It threatened to complete a famous double when Chris Wood scored for an early lead, slotting across Alisson and into the bottom-right corner after being fed by Anthony Elanga.
Forest was comfortable until the 66th minute, but a double substitution made by Arne Slot proved inspired. Jota and Kostas Tsimikas entered the fray and immediately combined for the leveller, the former nodding the latter's corner home.
Jota was central to everything positive about Liverpool's play from then on, and he saw two efforts repelled by Matz Sels, the second a brilliant sprawling stop that was backed up by Ola Aina in the first of two excellent clearances.
Sels saved his best stops for last by springing to his right to tip Mohamed Salah's curler over and turning Cody Gakpo's drive around the post, as Forest held on for a point that takes it to second on the table.
Liverpool remains six points clear of Forest with a game in hand, but its advantage at the summit could be cut to four points if Arsenal beats Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday (AEDT).
Nuno Espirito Santo's team was widely expected to be involved in a relegation battle at the start of the season, but goalkeeper Sels says it can now afford to set new targets, but the possibility of winning the Premier League title is not being discussed.
"We are not talking about this. We want to finish as high as possible in the league," he said.
"A lot of people before the season said we would fight against relegation, so we need to enjoy the good momentum we are in. We take it game by game.
"We said before the season that if we took 40 points as quickly as possible that would be great, and we are now on 41 with 17 games to go.
"We can now aim a little higher and see where we end up by the end of the season."
Asked about Sels' performance, Nuno said: "He was amazing. Matz kept us in the game with some huge saves. We are very proud. He is in a good moment.
"He has been able to keep us in games many times now. That shows how good he is. It also shows we have to do better in our defensive actions."
Nuno was also asked if Forest is a possible title contender, but he was simply pleased to see his side prove it can compete with the league's best.
"It shows a lot for the way that the players commit themselves," he explained. "To see them disappointed after the game is a good sign.
"We have to be fair with the game. Liverpool are very good, they had some good chances and are an amazing team.
"Being able to compete and challenge against them shows that we want to progress and continue."
