Liverpool have 69% of the ball, Nottingham Forest have the better chances, and Liverpool twice come from behind to draw.
The numbers
| Liverpool | Nottingham Forest | |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 69.1% | 30.9% |
| Shots | 13 | 12 |
| On target | 4 | 3 |
| xG | 1.75 | 2.3 |
| Corners | 3 | 5 |
| Pass accuracy | 89.1% | 67% |
Result the chances deserved: Liverpool 30% / 20% / Nottingham Forest 50% (Poisson).
Starting line-ups
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson, Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Muñoz, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak.
Nottingham Forest (3-4-2-1): Sels, Cunha, Milenković, Murillo, Aina, Schlager, McAtee, Williams, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus.
Nottingham Forest subs: Delap (66', Ndoye), Netz (86', Aina), Hudson-Odoi & Domínguez (90+2', McAtee & Igor Jesus). Forest manager: Oliver Glasner. Line-ups from Sky Sports and liverpoolfc.com. FotMob lists Forest as a 3-4-2-1, Sky Sports as a 4-2-3-1 and TransferHub as a 3-5-2. FotMob puts Muñoz on the right and Gakpo on the left; TransferHub has them the other way round in the first half, and Gakpo crossed for Isak's goal from the right. Liverpool's triple substitution was ready from about 65' but held up by a fault with the fourth official's board. Some reports have Ndoye's goal later in the first half; Sky Sports, FotMob and Opta all have 24'.
Key moments, move by move
- Sels hits a long ball forward from the back.
- Igor Jesus gets on the end of it and feeds Gibbs-White.
- Gibbs-White holds it up and lays it off to Ndoye in the box.
- Ndoye finishes low across Alisson into the bottom-right corner.
- Liverpool work the ball out to Gakpo on the right.
- Gakpo spins away from Neco Williams and a second defender.
- He drills a low cross across the six-yard box.
- Isak taps in at the back post.
- Liverpool have three substitutes waiting, but a fault with the fourth official's board holds up the change.
- Delap, just on, takes a quick throw on the left.
- Williams runs into the box and Alisson brings him down.
- Gibbs-White sends Alisson the wrong way.
- Wirtz threads a pass to Muñoz on the right side of the box.
- Muñoz turns in one movement.
- His shot takes a deflection off Murillo.
- It flies in off the underside of the bar.
Forest go long; Liverpool have the ball but lose the duels
- Nottingham Forest's plan was simple. They went long, completing only 193 of 288 passes (67%, Sky Sports). The opener came straight from a long ball by Sels: Igor Jesus, then Gibbs-White, then Ndoye. Ten of Forest's 11 non-penalty shots came from inside the box (TransferHub).
- Liverpool's right side. TransferHub says Liverpool "struggled in wide areas", especially on Frimpong's side, and that Igor Jesus dropped to link with McAtee. Forest won 17 more duels than Liverpool. Sports Mole says Schlager won 8 of 11 duels against Mac Allister and Szoboszlai.
- Ball, no control. Liverpool had 69% of the ball and 89% pass accuracy, but only 21 touches in Forest's box to Forest's 23 in theirs (FotMob). NBC Sports had the first-half xG at 0.25 to 1.29. TransferHub counts 15 times Szoboszlai lost the ball.
- Second half: Liverpool pressed closer and won more duels, and Isak equalised. After the stalled substitution and the penalty, Gravenberch came on and Szoboszlai moved to right-back, which TransferHub says improved the balance. Muñoz scored eleven minutes later.
Recreate it in FM26
Nottingham Forest · Glasner's direct 3-4-2-1 at Anfield · 3-4-2-1Show cardHide card
Glasner's direct 3-4-2-1 at Anfield
| Pos | Player | In Possession | Out of Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Sels | No-Nonsense Goalkeeper | Goalkeeper |
| RCB | Cunha | Wide Centre-Back | Stopping Wide Centre-Back |
| CB | Milenković | No-Nonsense Centre-Back | Covering Centre-Back |
| LCB | Murillo | Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Stopping Wide Centre-Back |
| RWB | Aina | Wing-Back | Holding Wing-Back |
| RCM | Schlager | Box-to-Box Midfielder | Pressing Central Midfielder |
| LCM | McAtee | Central Midfielder | Central Midfielder |
| LWB | Williams | Advanced Wing-Back | Wing-Back |
| RAM | Ndoye | Inside Forward | Tracking Attacking Midfielder |
| LAM | Gibbs-White | Advanced Playmaker | Tracking Attacking Midfielder |
| ST | Igor Jesus | Target Forward | Centre Forward |
Team instructions
In Possession
- Build-Up StrategyDirect
- Passing DirectnessMore Direct
- Goal KicksLong
- Attacking TransitionCounter-Attack
- Progress ThroughLeft
Out of Possession
- Line of EngagementMid Block
- TacklingAggressive
- Defensive TransitionRegroup
- Cross EngagementContest
The idea: Go long early to a striker who can hold it up or drop off, and get the two attacking midfielders onto the second ball. Williams pushes on from the left to attack the opposing right-back. You need a ball-winner like Schlager in midfield, because the plan depends on winning duels, not keeping the ball.
What FM26 can't copy: FM26 can't reproduce the stoppage for Liverpool's delayed substitution, when Delap's quick throw led to the penalty.
Our reading of this match in FM26 terms, not an exported tactic file. Role names as in FM26.
What if? Replay it with a different plan
Our best alternative plan: Formation 4-3-3, Gravenberch on at HT (for Frimpong). Start with a third central midfielder to compete for second balls, and move Szoboszlai to right-back at half-time, not at 71'. It doesn't change Liverpool's attack much, but it deals with the duels and the right side that gave Forest their chances. It moves Liverpool's win chance from 30% to 42% (xG 1.75–2.30 becomes 1.85–1.70). Try your own changes to formation, pressing, approach and substitutions.
The game-changer Liverpool needed
Ryan Gravenberch
Nottingham Forest won the first half by winning duels and second balls from long passes, and Liverpool's Mac Allister–Szoboszlai pivot kept losing them. Gravenberch started at Newcastle United and is the squad's best midfielder at carrying the ball out of pressure. When he came on at 71' and Szoboszlai moved to right-back, Liverpool's shape improved and the equaliser followed.
Ben White
Forest kept getting in on Liverpool's right: Frimpong struggled in wide duels, Williams ran through there for the penalty, and Liverpool's balance only improved once Szoboszlai moved to right-back. White is a defensive right-back who can also play centre-back. He holds his position, wins his duels and can tuck in as a third centre-back against long balls.
What the analysts said
“The first half has been poor from our side. I think we haven't been good enough, we haven't controlled the game.”Andoni Iraola
“Being closer to the opposition gives you the chance to win duels and then you start attacking quicker.”Andoni Iraola
“Definitely he was having some problems with the board or something.”Andoni Iraola on the substitution delay
“Overall, the performance was top, especially in the first half, creating so many chances here at Anfield.”Oliver Glasner
Liverpool had the ball. Nottingham Forest had the game.
Liverpool had 69% of the ball and completed 562 passes to Nottingham Forest's 193. Forest still had the better chances: 2.30 xG to 1.75, and three big chances missed to none (Sky Sports). At half-time NBC Sports had the xG at 1.29 to 0.25. Liverpool were lucky to be only one down at the break.
The reason was duels, not possession. Forest went long and competed for every second ball. Schlager beat Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, and Igor Jesus dropped off to link play. Frimpong's side was where Forest kept getting in. A Mac Allister–Szoboszlai pivot was too light for that game. It got better only when Gravenberch came on and Szoboszlai went to right-back.
The penalty will be remembered as the officials' fault. Liverpool's triple change sat at the board for two minutes and Forest scored during the wait. But Delap's quick throw and Williams's run happened while Liverpool stood around. That makes two games and two leads given away to direct, fast attacks: breaks at Newcastle United, long balls here. Both times the centre-backs had too little cover in front of them.