PLAYER RATINGS: LIVERPOOL 3-2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Liverpool won a five goal thriller at Anfield this afternoon against relegation threatened Forest. A goalless first half was quickly forgotten in a breathless second period. A Salah winner earned the points in the end, after Jota’s brace was cancelled out by Williams and Gibbs-White. Here are player ratings from the match.

Alisson – 5.5

Good save from Gibbs-White’s first half drive. Beaten by two deflections today, and was desperately unlucky not to stop the first after getting a hand to it. Played a poor pass straight out of play under little pressure, with Forest scoring off that throw. Played Konaté into trouble late on as well.

Alexander-Arnold – 8

Best player on the pitch for most of the game. Played his role to perfection today, creating chances going forward (especially from set pieces) and getting back to make crucial interceptions in his own box. It got a bit hairy when Forest threw everything at it late on but the side got over the line.

Almost gave a goal away after a poor pass into midfield late on. He could have had a handful of assists today, with Van Dijk and Jota guilty of wasting good dead ball deliveries. He got his assist in the end, crossing another peach of a ball for Salah to steer home for the winner. More of midfield Trent please.

Konaté – 7.5

Looks comfortable as the right sided centre back in the back three. Tussled against the burly Awoniyi all game and gave as good as he got. One dribble in midfield opened up space for him and he capitalised on it to send a delightful long ball over the top for Jota to attack. Ibou is absolutely key to this new setup. He lost Johnson and Mangala in the box late on which could have proven costly.

Van Dijk – 6.5

Almost caught on the ball twice early on by Awoniyi. Should have scored when he got on the end of Trent’s free kick delivery first half. His header was tipped over by Navas but either side of the goalkeeper and he’d have opened the scoring.

He passed straight to a Forest player after initially doing well to cut out the danger. He was lucky to get away with it. Doesn’t quite look like the force he was. The side looked very vulnerable from long throws into the box. He produced a vital challenge to halt Johnson’s run into the box late on.

Robertson – 8.5

He was usually tasked with being the left sided centre back in the back three but he still bombed forward when the situation called for it. His set piece delivery was right on the money as well, with Jota benefiting from one to net his second. Another energetic outing from the Scot.

Fabinho – 6

Saw a lot of the ball with Forest sitting deep. Didn’t do enough with it however. Too slow to turn away from his marker, meaning everything was side to side or backwards. Did well to direct a header goalwards for Jota to head home. Nowhere to be found when they broke for their first goal. He just stood and hoped Konaté would win the duel with Awoniyi.

Henderson – 6

Struggled on the ball in attacking areas. Almost played Alisson into trouble first half because of his uneasiness at being harried by the Forest midfield. Skied one volley horribly over in the second half. His energy and defensive nous was helpful in the last 15, although he was too slow to close down Gibbs-White for his goal.

Jones – 6

A tidy touch here and there but not enough substance today. Chewed the ball a bit too long on a couple of counter attacks. Lasted 81 minutes before making way for Milner.

Salah – 7.5

First half he wasn’t doing much when he received it. He wasn’t running at his man enough, usually going backwards to Henderson, Trent or Konaté. He looked up for it second half as he won a corner barely a minute into it. He was the match winner yet again, steering home Trent’s free kick delivery into the bottom corner despite being off balance. That goal took him level with ‘god’ for goals scored for the club!

Gakpo – 6

Looked lively when he pulled wide to combine with Salah on the right. One deft touch inside for Trent put the Scouser in behind the Forest defence. Saw one shot blocked and another cleared off the line first half. Not as involved as he’d like.

Jota – 9

The only forward actually driving at defenders first half. Should have scored from Trent’s delivery when he was alone at the backpost. Made up for it second half with two trademark finishes. The first came when he reacted quickest to Fabinho’s header to nod home from close range.

The second showed brilliant movement and then unnerring class to bring the cross down and arrow a shot into the bottom corner with his weaker left foot. He was denied a hat trick by the excellent Navas who tipped the Portuguese’s header over. I knew he’d go on a scoring streak!

Substitutes

Thiago – 5.5

Came on for Fabinho on the hour mark, presumably to control proceedings. That didn’t happen though, with a plucky Forest side fighting back and going close to equalising for a third time. Thiago’s passing wasn’t as assured as we’re used to.

Darwin – 6

Played down the middle when he came on. Neat touch out wide to Salah played the Egyptian into space. Gave away a silly free kick for fouling Williams. Should have scored from Robertson’s free kick delivery. Saw an attempted cross almost float into the top corner.

Milner – N/A

On for the final ten or so minutes.

Diaz – N/A

Good to see him get more minutes under his belt. Won a free kick of two off Williams and we saw signs of his old self when he wriggled out of a couple of tight situations.

Jürgen Klopp

The manager understandably went with the same lineup. Forest proved a tough nut to crack however, holding firm in the first half and twice fighting back in the second. Set pieces won the points in the end, with all three goals coming from dead ball situations. That’s now back to back wins. Can this side finally put a long winning run together? We’ll find out.