Liverpool player ratings as one man 9/10 but four 4/10 in dramatic Nottingham Forest win
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Liverpool Player Ratings: One Man 9/10 but Four 4/10 in Dramatic Nottingham Forest Win
In a thrilling 1-0 victory for Liverpool over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on February 22, 2026, Alexis Mac Allister emerged as the undisputed hero, netting the winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Despite one of their poorest performances under Arne Slot, Liverpool snatched three vital points, climbing level with Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for Champions League spots[2][3].
The match was a horror show for the visitors, particularly in the first half, as a resurgent Forest—buoyed by new manager Vitor Pereira—dominated proceedings. Forest missed golden chances, including Callum Hudson-Odoi's early one-on-one saved by Alisson Becker, while Morgan Gibbs-White pulled the strings with seven of nine shots in the first 26 minutes[2][4]. Liverpool's bench looked inexperienced, and key players like Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike barely featured, with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega touching the ball more than some outfield stars[4].
Player Ratings
| Player | Rating | Key Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Alexis Mac Allister | 9/10 | Late winner after VAR-disallowed goal; turned the game single-handedly[2][4]. |
| Alisson Becker | 7/10 | Crucial save on Hudson-Odoi; solid amid chaos[4]. |
| Virgil van Dijk | 4/10 | Struggled against Forest's pace; rare off-day[6]. |
| Mohamed Salah | 4/10 | Isolated, minimal impact; touches dwarfed by keeper[4]. |
| Ibrahima Konaté | 4/10 | Beaten repeatedly; yellow card[6]. |
| Dominik Szoboszlai | 4/10 | Ineffective in midfield battle[6]. |
Forest, 17th with 27 points, can take solace in their display, remaining three points above relegation. Liverpool's grit prevailed, but Slot faces questions after four straight draws to start 2026[3][4][5]. Mac Allister's stoppage-time magic masked deeper issues, as Jamie Carragher labeled the first half a disaster[2]. (298 words)