Munoz’s late strike earns Liverpool draw with Forest in Iraola’s Anfield debut

WEB DESK: Victor Munoz scored a late equaliser as Liverpool came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.

Forest appeared on course for all three points after Morgan Gibbs-White converted a 70th-minute penalty to put the visitors 2-1 ahead. The spot-kick was awarded after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson brought down Neco Williams inside the box.

However, Liverpool newcomer Munoz, making his first start for the club, restored parity in the 82nd minute. The forward turned sharply before unleashing a powerful effort from the edge of the area that struck the underside of the crossbar and went in.

Forest led at half-time

Forest had opened the scoring through Dan Ndoye in the 24th minute, the Swiss forward finishing off a rapid counterattack that began with goalkeeper, Matz Sels, launching a long ball upfield before Gibbs-White slipped him through to slot coolly into the bottom corner.

Liverpool had a first-half effort from Florian Wirtz chalked off after a VAR review determined Jeremie Frimpong was offside in the build-up, before finally levelling in the 60th minute when Alexander Isak scored.

Cody Gakpo twisted away from his marker on the right and whipped a low ball across the face of goal, with Isak tapping into an empty net after two Forest defenders failed to make contact.

“It’s been good, there is always time to get used to a new style,” Isak said. “We are really working hard to try to play the game (Iraola) wants us to play, when we start doing that better I have no doubt the results will come as well.”

Two draws so far for Liverpool

Liverpool had needed a stoppage-time penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai to rescue a 2-2 draw with Newcastle in their league opener six days earlier.

Saturday’s result left Liverpool with two draws from two league matches under Iraola, who was appointed this summer after the club followed up its 2025 Premier League title triumph with a disappointing fifth-place finish under Arne Slot last season, despite their £446 million spending spree a year ago.

Iraola has reinforcements on the way as the club finalised an agreement to sign French forward Bradley Barcola from European champions Paris St Germain earlier on Saturday, according to British media reports, with the 23-year-old set to become the latest high-profile addition to Iraola’s squad.