Víctor Muñoz scored a late equaliser for Liverpool F.C. In a 2-2 Premier League draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday. The result leaves Andoni Iraola's side tenth in the table with just one point from their opening game, already five points behind leaders Manchester City.
Alexander Isak, Liverpool's Swedish No. 9, had earlier levelled the scores with a close-range finish from Cody Gakpo's cross in the 60th minute. But the Reds were forced to come from behind twice, a familiar pattern from last season. Forest took the lead in the 24th minute through Dan Ndoye, who finished neatly into the bottom corner. Morgan Gibbs-White then restored their advantage from the penalty spot after Neco Williams was fouled by Alisson Becker.
The game marked Iraola's first Premier League match in the Anfield dugout. He watched his team fall behind early, a habit that plagued them last term. Liverpool conceded the opening goal in 14 league games last season, winning just one of those matches. Forest supporters gleefully chanted 'It's happening again' as their side took control. Oliver Glasner's newly-promoted side, who have beaten Liverpool three times since 2022, looked set for another victory.
Liverpool's response was led by Isak. "That's the job ultimately as a striker," Isak told reporters after the game. "Obviously I'm very happy to score the first one and hopefully it just keeps coming." Florian Wirtz thought he had put Liverpool ahead, but his strike was ruled out for an offside infringement by Jeremie Frimpong in the buildup. Muñoz also lifted an effort over the bar before finally finding the net with a rifled shot into the roof of the net from Wirtz's pass.
The underlying numbers are concerning. This 2-2 draw follows a similar result at Newcastle United the previous Sunday, meaning Liverpool have conceded three goals in two games. Their current winless run now stretches to six matches, their longest such sequence since 2012. The team's defensive fragility was evident again, with Dominik Szoboszlai deployed at right back in a tactical shift that failed to solidify the back line.
Principal owner John Henry and new vice-chairman Amit Bhatia watched from the director's box as these persistent issues played out. The only positive historical note is that Liverpool have not lost their first Anfield league match of a campaign since a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the 2003-04 season. You can review the team's defensive statistics on our stats page.
Attention now turns to the final days of the transfer window, which closes on Tuesday, September 2. Manager Andoni Iraola was coy when asked about potential business. "I cannot tell you anything right now but it is true that there are things going on and that is normal," he said. The club has been linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola.
The immediate focus is on the pitch. Liverpool's next fixture is an away trip to face Ipswich Town on September 4. Ipswich currently sit eighth, one place above Liverpool in the early standings. With a goal difference of zero after scoring two and conceding two, improvement is needed quickly. The team must find a way to stop giving opponents a head start if they are to climb the table from their current tenth-place position.
