European Leagues

Nunez strikes last gasp winner to give Liverpool victory at Forest

It was a case of last minute glory for Liverpool at the City Ground as the Reds won despite a lacklustre display against Nottingham Forest. Jurgen Klopp’s side won 1-0, and will stay top of the Premier League even if Manchester City win at home to Manchester United tomorrow.

In a low-key clash, the hosts were left ruing Anthony Elanga’s missed first-half chance, with the winger denied by Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher – before sub Darwin Nunez struck a winner for the Reds in the ninth and final minute of injury time.

If Liverpool’s injury-stricken and youthful side were inspired last Sunday at Wembley, then for most of the 90 minutes today they looked like a team running on empty.

For the first time, the intense schedule Klopp and co are currently managing as they aim for an unprecedented quadruple appeared to take its toll. And the display seemingly backed up the fears of Sir Kenny Dalglish, who recently told the No Tippy Tappy Podcast: “Arsenal are not the biggest [threat] because Manchester City are in there as well. The biggest threat to Liverpool could be injuries.”

His fears appeared to ring true until the final seconds, when Nunez headed in from Alexis Mac Allister’s cross. Somehow, Liverpool found a way…again.

Andy Robertson missed the FA Cup win over Southampton in midweek, but while needs must for Klopp at the moment, it appeared an unwise decision to let him return for the trip to the City Ground.

The usually dependable Scottish full-back looked a shadow of his energetic self, giving the ball away frequently and failing to surge forward in his usual manner. He also found himself with a chance to shoot from point blank range early in the second period, but his shot was blocked after brief hesitation.

It was of no surprise when he 29-year-old was hauled off before the 60-minute mark. Having only returned to training on Friday, the decision to start Robertson over Konstantinos Tsimikas ended up looking a questionable one.

Related Topics:EPL Featured Liverpool Nottingham Forest

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Premier League

Gary Lineker, Micah Richards advise caution over potential João Félix move to Aston Villa

Football pundits Gary Lineker and Micah Richards have cautioned Aston Villa against pursuing João Félix from Chelsea, despite the club’s interest in the Portuguese playmaker.

Aston Villa are keen to bring in Félix during the January transfer window following the departure of forward Jhon Durán, who is set to join Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Félix, who has struggled for regular starts under manager Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, has started just three Premier League matches since returning to Stamford Bridge last summer.

However, Lineker and Richards are skeptical about the fit between the former Barcelona star and Villa’s playing style under Unai Emery.

On The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker remarked, “That is a funny one because he is a player who moved for a massive price tag when he was really young to Atlético Madrid.

“There is no question he has a lot of ability, but he has never managed to secure a regular starting place anywhere, so I don’t know what Aston Villa would see in him.”

Richards added, “That is the thing. Everyone wants a marquee signing, and getting a player of that stature by name to Villa Park would be amazing.

“They just have to be careful. What makes Villa so good is how they press, and when Watkins is out of the team, you’ve got Durán, and behind him, you’ve got Morgan Rogers. The one thing all those players have is a high work rate, intensity, and a strong press.

“If you bring in a flair player, you do need options, but you risk moving away from what got them to where they are now—competing in the Champions League and the Premier League.”

Premier League

David Luiz highlights Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández as standout Chelsea players

Former Chelsea defender David Luiz has praised Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández as standout players at Chelsea. Luiz singled out Caicedo for his powerful presence on the pitch, noting the midfielder’s resilience after a rocky start.

“I love a lot of players at Chelsea, but in particular, Caicedo. He has some amazing qualities, he is powerful,” Luiz said, adding that the Ecuadorian has shown great character by continuing to fight and showcase his skill.

Luiz also commended Enzo Fernández, calling him a world-class talent and a player who thrives in a team with a solid collective performance.

“Enzo is fantastic, and at Chelsea, he has many examples to follow to continue to improve,” Luiz added.

The 37-year-old spent most of his Premier League career at Chelsea, later having a stint at London rivals Arsenal.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Walcott: Arsenal can win the Champions League if they improve key areas

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has expressed belief that the Gunners can clinch the UEFA Champions League title this season, but only if they address two key areas.

Arsenal, who are second in the Premier League with 47 points from 23 games, finished third in their Champions League group with 19 points. Walcott told the BBC that the team needs to develop a stronger winning mentality and a more free-flowing style of play.

He also highlighted the need for a star striker to increase their goal output, saying, “If they want to win the Champions League, they need to get those numbers a lot higher.”

With improvements in these areas, Walcott believes Arsenal could be contenders for Europe’s most prestigious trophy.