Taiwo Awoniyi was the difference maker today as Nottingham Forest pulled off a shock 1-0 win over Liverpool at City Ground.
The Super Eagles striker scored the only goal against his former club to lift struggling Forest off the bottom of the Premier League table.
The Nigeria international struck from close range when the rebound fell to him after his initial shot came off the base of the upright.
Forest, who started the fixture at the foot of the table having previously won only one of their 11 games, were resolute in defence but had even more chances to win by a bigger margin.
The first half ended goalless as Forest kept their shape and fended off the Liverpool attack led by Mohamed Salah.
Awoniyi was the lone man in Forest’s attack and he did an excellent job, holding the ball up impressively and leading superbly from the front.
When the big chance came 10 minutes into the second half, the Nigeria international pounced.
A free-kick which Awoniyi had won led to the goal, the former Liverpool striker getting to the ball first twice to score his third goal of the campaign.
Awoniyi did not play a single official game for Liverpool before he was sold off to Union Berlin in 2021, but he respected his old club with muted a celebration as his teammates and fans at the City Ground jubilated wildly.
The 25-year-old Nigerian was taken off after 64 minutes as Forest sought to hold on to their lead, but it was the hosts who had the better opportunities for more goals, with substitute Brennan Johnson seeing his close-range shot stopped by Alisson.
Forest’s other Super Eagles star, Emmanuel Dennis, was an unused substitute.
The defeat left Liverpool in seventh spot, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
