Munoz’s late strike earns Liverpool draw with Nottingham Forest in manager Iraola’s Anfield debut
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Liverpool’s Victor Munoz scoring their second goal against Nottingham Forest to rescue a point in a 2-2 Premier League draw at Anfield on Aug 29.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Victor Munoz scored a late equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest in Andoni Iraola's first home Premier League game.
- The Reds have drawn their first two league matches under Iraola, following a 2-2 draw with Newcastle secured by a stoppage-time penalty.
- Liverpool signed French forward Bradley Barcola from PSG for £106 million to strengthen Iraola's squad after a disappointing previous season.
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LIVERPOOL – Liverpool’s Victor Munoz scored a late equaliser to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in Andoni Iraola’s first English Premier League home game in charge on Aug 29, the single point extending the Reds’ wait for their first league win of the season.
Forest looked set to leave Anfield with all three points after Morgan Gibbs-White converted a 70th-minute penalty, awarded when Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker fouled Neco Williams in the area, for a 2-1 lead.
But Spanish newcomer Munoz equalised in the 82nd minute in his first start for Liverpool, when he spun and blasted a shot from the edge of the box that went in off the crossbar.
Forest led at half-time
Forest had opened the scoring through Dan Ndoye in the 24th minute, the Swiss forward finishing off a rapid counter-attack 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 ruled out for offside before finally levelling in the 60th minute through Alexander Isak. Cody Gakpo twisted away from his marker on the right and whipped a low ball across the face of goal, with the Swede 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.
The latest result left them with two draws from two league matches under Iraola, who was appointed this summer after the club followed up their 2025 Premier League title triumph with a disappointing fifth-place finish under Arne Slot last season, despite their £446 million (S$770 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 Saint-Germain earlier on Aug 28, according to British media reports, with the 23-year-old set to become the latest high-profile addition to the Spaniard’s squad.
The 20-time English champions will pay a package worth £106 million, with add-ons potentially rising to £17 million, for Barcola, the BBC said. The Athletic reported that he is set to sign a five-year contract. REUTERS