Nottingham Forest recorded their first win since August as they beat Liverpool 1-0 at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.
Former Liverpool forward Taiwo Awoniyi scored the only goal of the game in the second half to seal a famous win for Steve Cooper and his players. Liverpool were a long way from their best - Virgil van Dijk wasted their best chances - and remain without an away league win this season.
The Reds are 11 points behind leaders Arsenal having played one game more while Forest, who are 19th, move above Leicester. And below is a look at how the national media and Liverpool ECHO reported on the game.
PAUL GORST: Klopp has no excuse for Forest defeat despite truth about 19 Liverpool players
IAN DOYLE: Liverpool going nowhere and worst defeat of the season proves it
'Liverpool arrived as hot favourites'
Joe Bernstein of the Mail on Sunday wrote: “Liverpool arrived as hot favourites but Klopp’s line-up gave the home side a lift. Thiago’s ear infection meant he joined Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Naby Keita, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Darwin Nunez on the unavailable list, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson were put on the bench with half an eye on Wednesday’s Champions League visit to Ajax.”
Before he added: “Klopp, who could face a touchline ban next week after accepting an FA charge of improper conduct for his berating of officials against Manchester City last week, tried to stay calm but all the good work of wins against City and West Ham in the last week were undone after 55 minutes.
"Joe Gomez wrestled Awoniyi to the ground just inside the Forest half and from the resulting set-piece, Scott McKenna found Cook by the far touchline.
“The defender’s cross was initially mishit by Awoniyi onto the post but the Nigerian striker reacted well to fire in the rebound with his right foot.
“Awoniyi had been sent abroad on loan seven times by Liverpool before signing for Union Berlin, who then sold him to Forest last summer for £17million.”
'Liverpool were blunted and hindered'
Charlotte Duncker of the Sunday Times wrote: “On paper this should have been an ideal fixture for Klopp’s team to continue with their winning momentum, facing a Forest side who had lost six times and drawn three since their only win of the campaign, at the City Ground back in August.
“But Cooper’s side had other ideas and they found a level to their performance that has been lacking since their promotion.”
Before she added: “While Liverpool were blunted and hindered by the late absence of Thiago Alcântara, who was ruled out at 5.15am on the morning of the game with an ear infection. They missed his presence and dominance in the middle of the pitch and Curtis Jones was thrown in at the last minute.”
'Liverpool were a long way from their best'
Neil Johnston of BBC Sport wrote: “Nottingham Forest produced a superb performance to shock Liverpool and climb off the bottom of the Premier League at a boisterous City Ground.
“Taiwo Awoniyi, who left Liverpool in 2021 without making a competitive appearance, hit the winner from close range after his initial attempt came back off a post.
“Liverpool were a long way from their best - Virgil van Dijk wasted their best chance - and remain without an away league win this season.
“Forest keeper Dean Henderson produced a superb save to palm away a Trent Alexander-Arnold header in the final 10 minutes.
“There were jubilant scenes on and off the pitch at the final whistle as Forest enjoyed their best day since returning to the top flight this season after a 23-year absence.”
'It doesn't get any easier'
Ben Husband of the Mirror wrote: “Jurgen Klopp is never shy when it comes to criticising the unrelenting nature of top-flight football. This was Liverpool’s seventh game in three weeks and the impact of the fixture pile-up has been clear to see.
“The Reds were forced to line-up without any of Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, with all four regulars nursing injuries of differing severity. That meant youngsters Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott were both thrown in from the start.
“And although every side up and down the country is struggling with injuries, the importance of those not available was particularly difficult for Liverpool. It doesn't get any easier either, they still have six more games before the season breaks on November 12.”
'A risible afternoon in Nottingham'
Paul Gorst of the Liverpool ECHO wrote: “The sight of Alisson Becker ambling forward for a late corner was previously the prelude to one of the most incredible moments of Jurgen Klopp's time at Liverpool.
“Here, on a risible afternoon in Nottingham, it served only to highlight just how desperate it all was for the Reds. This was a woefully below-par performance and if Jurgen Klopp could point to the identity of his side's conquerors on the road this season as at least being Arsenal and Manchester United as partial mitigation, he will have no real excuse here as lowly, rock-bottom Forest pilfered a 1-0 win.
“Liverpool 's wait for a Premier League win at this venue goes on and they got exactly what they deserved on a worryingly poor afternoon that only raises more questions about where this team is at and ultimately where it is heading.
"Steve Cooper is a fine manager, but the ex-Liverpool Academy coach has been struggling to make it work at the City Ground this term after having as many as 22 new players foisted upon him over the summer. They looked a slick, cohesive unit at times here though as their visitors struggled to impose themselves in virtually every area of the pitch. Just who was the recently-promoted team here exactly?"
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