Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest: Munoz Rescues Late Draw as Iraola’s Winless Start Continues

Victor Munoz marked his home debut with a late equaliser as Liverpool snatched a 2-2 draw for a second successive week in the Premier League.

Andoni Iraola is still awaiting his first win as Reds boss after his side twice trailed to Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.

Dan Ndoye gave the visitors a deserved first-half lead before Alexander Isak levelled on the hour. A Morgan Gibbs-White penalty put Forest in sight of a third straight victory at the venue, but £34.5m summer signing Munoz levelled, much to the relief of the home fans, eight minutes from time.

The result continued Liverpool’s frustrating start to the new campaign after last week’s last-gasp draw at Newcastle, and Iraola will hope the anticipated arrival of Paris St-Germain forward Bradley Barcola can offer fresh impetus.

Liverpool came up against a Forest side much improved after being beaten twice by Leeds in Oliver Glasner’s first week in charge.

There was an early chance for the hosts when Alexis Mac Allister, preferred to Ryan Gravenberch in midfield, played in Cody Gakpo, but Neco Williams timed his challenge superbly to avert the danger.

From then on it was Forest who took control, with Gibbs-White, Ndoye and Igor Jesus causing repeated problems for the home defence. Ndoye nodded down to tee up a chance for Jesus that Jeremy Jacquet blocked, before heading another opportunity across the face of goal himself.

Forest’s opening goal of the season arrived after 24 minutes when Liverpool were caught out by a long ball from Matz Sels to Jesus. Gibbs-White found Ndoye, and the Swiss forward finished neatly with a low finish.

Liverpool thought they had drawn level soon after when Florian Wirtz turned and drilled in a low effort, only for it to be ruled out for offside against Jeremie Frimpong. Wirtz then met a Gakpo cross with a firm header, but Sels was equal to it, palming the ball over the bar.

Gakpo, linked in recent reports with both Tottenham and Manchester City, carved out another chance, but Isak could not control it and Munoz curled his effort over. Forest almost doubled their advantage when Ola Aina cut inside Munoz to set up Jesus, only for Alisson Becker to push the ball onto the crossbar.

Munoz headed over from another Gakpo delivery after the restart, and Liverpool continued to struggle for clear-cut openings until Isak made his mark on the hour. Having touched the ball just eight times before that moment, the Swede arrived at the back post to tap home after a clever turn and cross from Gakpo.

The lift in atmosphere at Anfield did not last long. Williams, a former Liverpool defender, was brought down by Alisson after latching onto a Liam Delap throw-in, and referee Sam Barrott pointed to the spot. Gibbs-White sent Alisson the wrong way to restore Forest’s lead.

Liverpool needed an answer and found one through Munoz, who turned in the area after being picked out by Wirtz and drove a thunderous effort in off the underside of the bar — with a deflection off Murillo leaving Sels with little chance.

Dominik Szoboszlai almost snatched a winner late on, but his free-kick flew just wide of the target.