Slot hails Liverpool’s ‘outstanding’ second half as Jota rescues point against Forest

Arne Slot hailed Liverpool’s “outstanding” second half which earned a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest.

The Premier League leaders maintained their six-point lead at the top of the table, with Diogo Jota coming off the bench to deny the hosts to cut the gap at the top to just three after Chris Wood’s early opener.

Liverpool struggled to break through a stubborn Forest display for the best part of an hour but a much-improved display after Jota’s introduction saw the spoils shared.

Slot told TNT Sports: “Their goalkeeper had to make a few incredible saves but their defenders also made some good blocks with quite a few chances. They blocked almost every shot.

“I could not have asked for more. Second half was outstanding. There are not many teams that can create so many chances against an opponent so defensively strong. unfortunately we couldn’t get a second.”

“You need to be a bit lucky with that [substitutions].

“We took Ibou [Konate] out at that moment who is normally a big threat on set pieces but we all know Jota can score a goal and Tsmikas has a good delivery. We brought them in to score a goal but they really did it after 20 seconds.”

Jota: ‘A good point but we wanted three’

Jota’s close-range header from a corner was assisted by fellow substitute Kostas Tsimikas, with the duo making a telling contrbution after coming on.

The Portuguese forward said: “We were watching the cup goal [FA Cup in 2023] from a few years ago where he [Tsimikas] passed it to me and so when we were on the touchline we said: ‘Let’s go now and recreate that, you take the corner.’ And it was a goal.

“It was one of those occasions where everything went right. But like I said I am not happy because I think we could have won.”

On their lead at the top, which remains six points, Jota said: “It’s a long way to go in the Premier League. Every ground you go to it’s hard. It’s one more point but we wanted the three.”

Sels: Draw still a good result

Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels took plenty of deserved plaudits after a making a number of fantastic saves to keep the Tricky Trees in the game.

The Belgian stopper said: “It was amazing with all the supporters behind us. One point is a good result in the end for us. Of course, we wanted to win, but I think a point is a good result against them.

“Second half there was a lot more space between the lines and Liverpool had a few big chances. If you are realistic, you have to say a point is a good result for us.

“I am there for it, to help the team in the difficult moments. The second half, last 20-25 minutes they had a lot of big chances. Everybody fought for it, until the last second. I am really happy for the team and also that we didn’t lose because that gives us confidence for the next game.

“Before the season we needed to get as quickly as possible to 40 points. With 17 games to go, we have got 41 so we can look a little bit higher. If you want to finish in the top four or top five, you have to keep those teams behind you, like Aston Villa, Man City and Newcastle.”

Goalscorer Jota, who was denied a number of times by Sels after his goal, said of the goalkeeper’s display: “I was just telling that to my former coaches from Wolves just now. He made two or three great saves. You want to do better but he was good as well.”