Munoz rescues point for Liverpool as Iraola's wait for a win goes on

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Victor Munoz thumped in a deflected leveller to rescue a point for Liverpool in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Andoni Iraola was heading towards defeat in his first Anfield Premier League game in charge of Liverpool when Morgan Gibbs-White converted a debatable penalty with 20 minutes to play. But summer signing Munoz put an otherwise frustrating first appearance in front of his new home fans behind him with an emphatic equaliser.

A first win with Liverpool still remains elusive for Iraola, having seen his side also come from behind to draw at Newcastle last weekend.

Winger Munoz had moved to the right flank just a few minutes before his strike, after Cody Gakpo, who had impressed on that side despite transfer links with Tottenham and Man City, was subbed off. The Dutchman's low cross through the six-yard box had been tapped in by the otherwise anonymous Alexander Isak earlier in the second half as Liverpool put a poor first 45 behind them.

Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their first goal of the game

Image: Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their first goal of the game

Iraola's side struggled to deal with the direct approach of Forest for much of that opening period, with a long ball from Matz Sels proving their undoing in the build-up to Dan Ndoye's opener.

Dan Ndoye scores to make it 1-0 to Nottingham Forest

Image: Dan Ndoye scores to make it 1-0 to Nottingham Forest

The defending from Liverpool for that goal was poor but Forest boss Oliver Glasner will ultimately rue missed chances in that half, with a stunning stop from Alisson just before half-time to push Igor Jesus' shot onto the bar proving key.

It was an entertaining, action-packed draw - but a frustrating one for both sides, who continue to look for their first league wins of the season.

More to follow...

The key moments from Anfield

12: BLOCK! Dan Ndoye nods down Ola Aina's back-post cross but Igor Jesus' attempt to turn it in is blocked by a big stretch from Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet!

19: CLOSE! Ndoye meets James McAtee's cute, clipped cross at the back post but steers his header across goal and wide of the other stick.

24: GOAL! Ndoye finishes across Alisson after Jesus latches onto a long ball from Matz Sels and feeds Morgan Gibbs-White to find Ndoye in the box.

33: GOAL RULED OUT! Florian Wirtz thinks he's pulled Liverpool level after intercepting a McAtee pass and converting from Jeremie Frimpong's pass - but a VAR check judged Frimpong offside before he made the assist.

39: WHAT A SAVE! Cody Gakpo crosses from the right but Wirtz's good header is tipped over the bar by Sels.

45: OVER! Munoz bends one narrowly over the bar! He had to hit the target.

60: GOAL! Alexander Isak taps in Gakpo's low cross from close range to equalise.

70: GOAL! Gibbs-White sends Alisson the wrong way with a penalty to restore Forest's lead after the goalkeeper brought down Neco Williams after a quick throw from Liam Delap.

Liverpool's Victor Munoz scores their side's second goal of the game

Image: Liverpool's Victor Munoz scores their side's second goal of the game

82: GOAL! Munoz thumps in an equaliser off the underside of the bar, with the help of a deflection off Murillo. Wirtz with the pass into him and the assist.

85: CLOSE! Dominik Szoboszlai so close to a free-kick winner but whips his shot past the post.

Analysis: Was the Forest penalty call correct?

Mike Dean on Soccer Saturday:

"He's knocked it over the goalkeeper and Alisson has caught him slightly.

"There's not much else he can do. It's like a coming together.

"But once it's given, it's not going to be overturned because it's not a clear and obvious error from the referee."

What the result means and next fixtures...

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