Pro Sports

Forest upsets Liverpool as Haaland fires City back on track

Posted October 22, 2022 7:00 am

By JAMES ROBSON

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, at the City Ground, in Nottingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) The Associated Press

MANCHESTER, England (AP) - Familiar faces came back to end Liverpool's mini-revival in a shock 1-0 loss at relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Erling Haaland put last week's blank at Anfield behind him to fire Manchester City within a point of league leader Arsenal with a 3-1 win over Brighton.

Liverpool's win against City last weekend had looked like putting it back on track after such an unconvincing start to the season.

Jurgen Klopp's team backed that up with a victory against West Ham in midweek, but the loss at Forest raises fresh doubts over Liverpool's ability to mount a credible title challenge.

Taiwo Awoniyi, who spent six years at Liverpool without ever playing for the first team, struck the second-half winner to relieve the pressure on Forest manager Steve Cooper, who was formerly on the coaching staff at Anfield.

The win moved Forest off the bottom of the table and left Klopp bemoaning the latest setback.

"(It feels) as low as possible,'ť the Liverpool manager said. 'œMassive, massive blow because I have no idea how we can lose this game to be honest. Not that we played exceptionally well, not that I expect that, but it would have been nice.'ť

Liverpool was without the injured Darwin Nunez and Thiago Alcantara, who was unwell.

Defeat ends a three-game winning run for Liverpool, which included the hugely encouraging victory against City.

Defending champion City brushed off that defeat with Haaland back on the score sheet.

The Norway striker's failure to find the back of the net against Liverpool was the first time he had gone without a goal since the second game of the season.

Haaland made up for that against Brighton, scoring twice to take his overall total since joining City to 22 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions. He has scored 17 goals in the Premier League so far this season.

He looked set to register his fourth hat trick this season, but couldn't add a third goal, with Kevin De Bruyne sealing the victory with an impressive strike after Leandro Trossard pulled one back.

Despite his goal, City manager Pep Guardiola was critical of De Bruyne's form.

'œHe is not playing at his top level, not yet,'ť Guardiola said. 'œHe made a fantastic goal, but he is not playing at his best. He knows, I don't have to tell him. His dynamic is still not perfect, I spoke with him."

Not that Guardiola wasn't pleased with the goal.

'œThe goal is outstanding," he said. "Thanks to him we didn't suffer in the last 15-20 minutes.'ť

CALVERT-LEWIN HURTS PALACE AGAIN

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored for the fifth time against Crystal Palace in a 3-0 win for Everton.

Victory ended a three-game losing streak for the team managed by Frank Lampard and moves it four points clear of the relegation zone.

Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil also scored.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates with his team-mates after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, at the City Ground, in Nottingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) The Associated Press

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah rues a missed chance during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, at the City Ground, in Nottingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) The Associated Press

Everton's Anthony Gordon celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, Saturday Oct. 22, 2022. (Isaac Parkin/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Everton's Dwight McNeil celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, Saturday Oct. 22, 2022. (Isaac Parkin/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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