Player Ratings: Mac Allister's Stoppage-Time Winner Rescues Liverpool vs. Forest
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Player Ratings: Mac Allister's Stoppage-Time Winner Rescues Liverpool vs. Forest
In a thrilling Premier League clash at the City Ground on February 22, 2026, Liverpool secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest thanks to Alexis Mac Allister's stoppage-time stunner. The Reds, sitting 6th with 42 points, avoided a season sweep by the 17th-placed Tricky Trees, who dominated much of the game but couldn't convert their chances.[1][2][3]
Nottingham Forest started strongly, pinning Liverpool back in the first half with seven of the game's nine shots in the opening 26 minutes. Morgan Gibbs-White (6 goals this season) was pivotal, actively involved across the pitch, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hugo Ekitike (10 goals) threatened Alisson Becker's goal. A close-range effort from Hudson-Odoi was brilliantly saved, and Forest earned multiple set-pieces, but halftime arrived 0-0.[5][6]
Liverpool, under Arne Slot, gradually settled despite recent inconsistent form (DLWLW). Injuries disrupted plans—Florian Wirtz was subbed pre-kickoff for Curtis Jones—yet the visitors held firm. Forest's Elliott Anderson created 40 chances league-wide, but defensive resilience from Virgil van Dijk (6.4 rating) and Ibrahima Konate kept a clean sheet.[1][4][5]
The game exploded in stoppage time amid VAR chaos. In the seventh minute of five added, Mac Allister snatched the winner, rescuing Liverpool and easing pressure ahead of a tough run. Forest's dominance (form: DWDLD) yielded no points, highlighting their wastefulness despite stars like Gibbs-White and Ekitike.[2][5]
Key Player Ratings
| Player | Rating | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| A. Mac Allister (LIV) | 9.2 | Stoppage-time hero, match-winner. |
| M. Gibbs-White (NFO) | 8.1 | Forest's engine, created chaos. |
| V. van Dijk (LIV) | 7.8 | Rock-solid defense. |
| H. Ekitike (NFO) | 7.5 | Threatened but no goals. |
| Alisson (LIV) | 7.9 | Key saves, clean sheet. |
The win boosts Liverpool's top-four push, while Forest rue missed opportunities in a VAR-marred affair.[2] (Word count: 298)