- Liverpool drew 1-1 with Forest with Jota scoring just 22 seconds after coming on
- Manager Arne Slot gave his thoughts on the pivotal substitutions after the match
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If Liverpool‘s draw at Nottingham Forest ends up being pivotal in the Premier League title race then Arne Slot can pat himself on the back for an inspired substitution.
Just 22 seconds elapsed after he brought on Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota before the latter headed in the former’s cross from a corner – both their first touch.
The Reds had been 1-0 down since the eighth minute after Chris Wood fired past Alisson at a boisterous City Ground on Tuesday night.
And the evening looked to be defined by frustration until the 66th minute, when Jota headed home his eighth goal of the season.
It was Liverpool’s fastest substitute goal in the Premier League since records began in 2006-07.
‘You need to be a bit lucky with that [subs]. We took Ibou (Konate) out at that moment who is normally a big threat on set pieces but we all know Jota can score a goal and Tsimi has a good delivery,’ Slot said at full time.
‘We brought them in to score a goal but they really did it after 20 seconds.
‘I couldn’t ask for more. Second half outstanding. Not many teams can create chances against a team that are so strong defensively.’
Jota has often had to settle for a place on the bench due to the synergy between Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Slot’s chosen striker Luis Diaz.
But Jota has been chipping in consistently and puts pressure on Diaz, who could have scored in the first half but was tackled by Forest defender Murillo.
Liverpool hit the target seven times but were denied by Forest’s in-form goalkeeper Matz Sels.
The result means Liverpool retain their six-point cushion over Forest.
Few fans were surprised by the flow of the game, which saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s side soaking up the pressure for large swathes of the match.
The hosts were content to have just 29 per cent of the ball and only had six shots to Liverpool’s 23, but Wood was clinical as he has been all season.
Wood has now hit 13 goals, just one away from his best-ever top-flight tally of 14 which he has achieved once each with Burnley and Forest.
