Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool: Taiwo Awoniyi scores winner against former club

Nottingham Forest produced a superb performance to shock Liverpool and climb off the bottom of the Premier League at a boisterous City Ground.

Taiwo Awoniyi, who left Liverpool in 2021 without making a competitive appearance, hit the winner from close range after his initial attempt came back off a post.

Liverpool were a long way from their best - Virgil van Dijk wasted their best chance - and remain without an away league win this season.

It could have been worse for the visitors but Brennan Johnson hit a post in the closing moments with Liverpool keeper Alisson well off his line.

There were jubilant scenes on and off the pitch at the final whistle as Forest enjoyed their best day since returning to the top flight this season after a 23-year absence.

Forest dig deep for famous win

Forest have endured a difficult start to their first season back in the Premier League, but this was a day to remember as they thoroughly deserved their victory over a flat Liverpool.

Given Forest slumped to the bottom of the table on Thursday with Leicester's win over Leeds, boss Steve Cooper will hope this is a season-changing win.

Despite their struggles since winning promotion, Forest awarded Cooper a new contract until 2025 this month.

While Bournemouth, Chelsea, Wolves and Aston Villa have sacked managers, Forest have decided to stay patient with theirs and have now secured four points from the past two games.

Forest took the game to Liverpool from the first whistle and, by the time referee Paul Tierney blew for full-time, they had run themselves into the ground.

They have got into a habit of conceding leads this season - most notably when they led Bournemouth 2-0 only to lose 3-2 - but survived some frantic late Liverpool pressure to secure a famous win.

Three of their next five league games are against Arsenal (away), Manchester United (away) and Chelsea (home), but this memorable win will give them confidence.

Liverpool's season takes a step backwards

Liverpool looked to be getting back into some sort of rhythm with wins over Rangers in the Champions League followed by back-to-back Premier League victories over Manchester City and West Ham.

Yet they remain without a Premier League away win this season, with their last league success at the City Ground way back in October 1984.

This was a million miles away from the gripping victory over City at Anfield six days ago.

Trent Alexander-Arnold went close to salvaging a point late on, yet this was a sluggish performance before Liverpool's trip to Amsterdam for the Champions League game with Ajax.

Questions will be asked of manager Jurgen Klopp, who will demand a much improved performance on Wednesday.

Player of the match

AwoniyiTaiwo Awoniyi

Nottingham Forest

Squad number9Player nameAwoniyi

Squad number22Player nameYates

Squad number21Player nameKouyaté

Squad number26Player nameMcKenna

Squad number1Player nameHenderson

Squad number7Player nameN Williams

Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White

Squad number23Player nameFreuler

Squad number20Player nameJohnson

Squad number3Player nameS Cook

Squad number4Player nameWorrall

Squad number24Player nameAurier

Squad number32Player nameRenan Lodi

Squad number5Player nameMangala

Squad number11Player nameLingard

Line-ups

Nottm Forest

Formation 4-3-3

1Henderson

24Aurier3S Cook26McKenna7N Williams

22Yates23Freuler21Kouyaté

10Gibbs-White9Awoniyi11Lingard

Substitutes

Liverpool

Formation 4-4-2

1Alisson

7Milner2Gomez4van Dijk26Robertson

19Elliott3Fabinho17Jones28Freitas Gouveia Carvalho

11Salah9Firmino

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Liverpool 0.

Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Liverpool 0.

Offside, Nottingham Forest. Morgan Gibbs-White tries a through ball, but Brennan Johnson is caught offside.

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Dean Henderson.

Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a headed pass.

Foul by Alisson (Liverpool).

Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt saved. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross.

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Joe Worrall.

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross following a set piece situation.

Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card.

Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Renan Lodi (Nottingham Forest).

Joe Worrall (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card.

Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Alisson.

Attempt saved. Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Morgan Gibbs-White.

Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.

Attempt saved. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross.

Foul by Andrew Robertson (Liverpool).

Sèrge Aurier (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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