Mac Allister Delivers While Standards Slip
There was relief at the City Ground, of course there was. Late winners always feel sweeter, like stolen fruit, and for Liverpool under Arne Slot, those moments have already begun to build a reputation. Yet amid the noise, Alexis Mac Allister stood still enough to admit an awkward truth. Liverpool had won at Nottingham Forest, but they had not convinced.
Mac Allister said afterwards: “Mixed feelings to be honest. I love scoring, I love winning, so in that sense I think it’s a really good day. But on the other hand, I don’t think we played very well.”
There it was viewed plainly. Not spin. Not cliché. Just a footballer acknowledging that Performance matters more than headlines.
Nottingham Forest Fight Reveals Liverpool Flaws
Nottingham Forest made Liverpool earn every blade of grass. Under Vítor Pereira, their midfield worked tirelessly, their defensive line stood stubborn, and their fans roared like believers. For long spells, Liverpool were second best in energy and imagination.
Mac Allister admitted as much. “We need to analyse during the week but the first half wasn’t good at all. Positioning, intensity, pressing – nothing was good,” he told BBC Sport. He could have added rhythm and tempo too.
Liverpool’s attack stuttered, their midfield misfired, and Forest sensed opportunity. Only the final whistle separated a frustrating afternoon from a damaging one.
Performance Lessons for Slot’s Liverpool
Arne Slot’s Liverpool have built a reputation for patience. They believe they will find a way, as they did here. Mac Allister had an earlier effort ruled out by VAR for handball, yet stayed alive to tuck home the winner in added time.
“I thought I was going to get another one even before the throw-in,” he said. “I told Hugo that this was going to be our goal… I had another opportunity and I’m glad that it went in.”
Confidence is admirable. Consistency is essential.
Slot’s team remain a work in progress. They want to dominate matches, not survive them. Against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool defended their box well, but struggled to impose their game. These are small warnings, but warnings nonetheless.
Late Winner Symbolises Character and Concern
There is romance in last-minute drama. Mac Allister’s goal sparked joy, relief and celebration. Yet serious teams treat victories like accountants treat numbers: they look behind the headline figure.
Mac Allister understands this instinctively. “There’s plenty of things we need to improve, but it’s always nicer when you win,” he said.
That honesty matters. Liverpool will celebrate the points, analyse the Performance, and prepare for sterner tests ahead. Nottingham Forest exposed issues; Mac Allister exposed humility.
In the Premier League, both may prove equally important.
