Diogo Jota rescues draw for Liverpool against impressive Nottingham Forest

Diogo Jota’s instant impact from the bench ensured Premier League leaders Liverpool kept Nottingham Forest at arm’s length after a 1-1 draw at the City Ground.

All the noise before the match was about how a win for Forest would see them move within three points of Arne Slot’s side and solidify their status as surprise title challengers.

And for a long time it looked like that would happen as they led inside the opening 10 minutes through Chris Wood’s 13th goal of the season.

But Jota was introduced in the 66th minute and 22 seconds later he nodded his side level from a corner which fellow substitute Kostas Tsimikas set up.

Liverpool then came up against a one-man barrier in the shape of Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels, who made a string of incredible saves to earn the hosts a point.

The draw suited Slot’s men fine as they remain six points above Forest, with a game in hand, and seven in front of Arsenal who play Tottenham on Wednesday.

Forest’s incredible six-match winning run is over and a title challenge does seem a stretch, but they asserted themselves as definite Champions League qualification contenders.

As per their style, they had barely touched the ball by the time they went ahead in the eighth minute.

Liverpool had already had three shots that sailed off target before they were undone by a lightning Forest attack which they were powerless to stop.

Callum Hudson-Odoi fed Anthony Elanga and he turned and picked out Wood, who stayed onside and found the bottom corner with aplomb.

After Murillo fired an effort from distance just wide moments later, the game reverted to type with Liverpool having all of the ball.

Forest’s defensive unit held firm, though, and it was a counter-attack that saw Liverpool have a real opening