Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest: Iraola Still Winless as Munoz Rescues a Point at Anfield

Liverpool dropped points at Anfield for the second time in two home games, drawing 2-2 with Nottingham Forest in a frantic contest they twice had to rescue. Andoni Iraola remains without a Premier League victory after his first two matches in charge. Goals from Cody Gakpo and Victor Munoz cancelled out strikes from Dan Ndoye and a Morgan Gibbs-White penalty, as the visitors were left ruing a win that slipped through their fingers late on.

• Liverpool drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest and have now recorded back-to-back draws under Andoni Iraola.
• Victor Munoz, a £34 million signing, marked his Anfield debut with a spectacular equalizer after coming off the bench.
• Cody Gakpo scored the first Liverpool equalizer, but his future at the club remains uncertain before the transfer deadline.
• Morgan Gibbs-White continued his habit of tormenting Liverpool, scoring from the penalty spot and having a hand in both Forest goals.
• Oliver Glasner admitted his side should have won after leading twice and leaving Anfield frustrated.

Victor Munoz Announces Himself at Anfield with a Stunning Goal

The Spanish winger needed barely any time to win over the Anfield crowd. Introduced from the bench, he collected a pass from Florian Wirtz, spun away from his marker with the confidence of a veteran, and unleashed a ferocious shot that found the net via a deflection off Murillo. A dream home debut for a player who cost £34 million and arrived with far less noise than the club's blockbuster move for Bradley Barcola.

His impact is no fluke. On the opening weekend at St James' Park, he won the penalty that Dominik Szoboszlai converted in the 99th minute to earn a point against Newcastle. Against Forest he went one better, scoring the goal that secured another draw when his team needed it most. Iraola made no secret of his admiration for the Spaniard, praising a winger who keeps trying again and again, a trait the manager values highly in his attacking players.

Cody Gakpo Scores a Goal That Could Be His Anfield Farewell

The Dutchman grabbed Liverpool's first equalizer at a crucial moment, just as Nottingham Forest threatened to take their lead into the break. Gakpo, not a natural right winger, was stationed on the flank that belonged to Mohamed Salah for so many years and delivered a performance full of effort and commitment.

Yet his long-term future remains one of the biggest questions of the final days of the transfer window. Iraola revealed after the match that he was preparing a triple substitution and that Gakpo would have been among the players withdrawn. That detail, combined with his contract situation, fuels speculation about a possible departure. If this was his last Anfield appearance in a red shirt, he at least left with a goal and a valiant display.

Defensive Frailties Exposed Again for Liverpool

The draw against Forest laid bare the same defensive problems that surfaced on the opening weekend. Against Newcastle, Iraola's side conceded twice by being carved open through the middle, repeatedly punished by the opposition's pace. Against Forest the pattern changed, but the outcome was identical: two goals conceded, this time from long balls over the top and quick set pieces.

The visitors' opener came from a huge goal kick by Matz Sels that caught the Liverpool back line far too high. The second arrived after a rapid throw-in from debutant Liam Delap. The move ended with Alisson bringing down Neco Williams and Gibbs-White converting from the spot. A chain of errors that Iraola will need to address quickly if his side are to challenge at the top end of the table.

What Liverpool Face in the Early Weeks of the Iraola Era

Two games, two draws, and the unmistakable feeling that this Liverpool side is very much a work in progress. Iraola began his tenure with the remit of returning the club to the Premier League title race, but the opening results call for patience. The manager himself admitted the first half against Forest was poor from his team and that they improved after the interval, an honest assessment that captures the rollercoaster nature of the project so far.

The fixtures offer no respite and the demands at Anfield are enormous. Liverpool cannot afford to keep dropping points at home if they want to stay in the upper reaches of the division. The signing of Barcola, whose transfer could reach £123 million, is a statement of intent, but it also adds pressure to a side that still looks shaky at the back. Iraola needs results, and sooner rather than later, to prevent his project from becoming an endless promise.

Nottingham Forest Left Frustrated After Leading Twice at Anfield

Oliver Glasner's side came agonizingly close to victory at a ground that has been kind to them in recent seasons. Forest had won on their previous two visits to Anfield and for long stretches looked poised to repeat the feat. Morgan Gibbs-White, a recurring thorn in Liverpool's side, led the charge with a goal and a hand in both of his team's strikes, keeping the home crowd on edge throughout.

It could and probably should have been a win. Very proud of the performance but frustrated and disappointed about the result.

Glasner's words summed up the mood of a team that went toe to toe with one of the Premier League's heavyweights. Forest, who are looking to strengthen in the closing days of the window, showed they have the tools to look up the table rather than over their shoulders. Delap, the striker signed from Chelsea for £45 million, offered glimpses of his potential and played a central role in the penalty incident. If Forest continue to compete like this, comfortable survival may no longer be their only aim.