Liverpool snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest as Alexis Mac Allister struck deep into stoppage time at the City Ground.
The Argentine midfielder bundled home from close range in the 97th minute after Virgil van Dijk’s downward header was saved by Stefan Ortega.
Mac Allister reacted quickest to the rebound, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling supporters.
There was a tense delay as VAR checked Van Dijk’s position, but the Dutch defender was ruled onside and the goal stood - unlike an earlier effort from Mac Allister that had been disallowed for handball when the ball ricocheted in off his elbow following Ortega’s save from Hugo Ekitike.
For long spells, however, Liverpool were second best.
Arne Slot’s side, who lost Florian Wirtz in the warm-up, struggled to impose themselves in a first half dominated by Forest.
Under Vitor Pereira, Forest started brightly and could have led early on, only for Callum Hudson-Odoi to be denied by a fine save from Alisson Becker.
Midfielders Ibrahima Sangare and Elliott Anderson controlled large periods, while Nikola Milenkovic headed wide after the break.
Liverpool improved in the second half, with Curtis Jones forcing a save from Ortega, but clear chances remained scarce until the frantic finale.
Substitute Rio Ngumoha injected urgency down the right, delivering the cross that led to Mac Allister’s earlier disallowed effort.
Ultimately, it was Liverpool who found the decisive blow, moving onto 45 points - level with Chelsea and just behind Manchester United - while Forest remain 17th, two points above the relegation zone.
For Pereira’s side, the defeat will sting given their performance, but the display offered encouragement.
For Liverpool, it was a smash-and-grab victory - another chapter of late drama in a season already full of it.
