Team
Alisson Becker was named in the Reds starting XI for the first time since September 30, one of five changes made by Arne Slot.
Summer signing Alexander Isak also came in, while Dominik Szoboszlai was deployed as a right-back.
Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate (Ekitike, 55), Kerkez (Robertson, 68), Szoboszlai, Isak (Chiesa, 68), Mac Allister, Salah, Jones (Ngumoha, 78), Gakpo, Gravenberch.
Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Nyoni, Ramsay.
First half
Liverpool were on the front foot early, and unfortunate not to get themselves in front inside 10 minutes.
Cody Gakpo’s snaking run to the byline and pullback fell to Alexis Mac Allister, whose finish was blocked en route to goal.
Once the ball was recycled, Milos Kerkez then found the Argentinian in a similar position and again Forest got a body in the way of his strike.
Next, Mohamed Salah’s fleet steps inside the opposition box allowed him to serve a cross to Kerkez, but the No.6 scuffed his effort off target.
Gakpo saw a chance deflected behind from close range and Curtis Jones curled one too high after a clever routine from a corner.
There was a straightforward save low to Alisson’s left when Murillo bustled Gakpo off the ball and tried his luck from distance.
From a burst of pace off the flank, Gakpo shaped a shot towards the far corner that was blocked, and Szoboszlai’s crisp hit was also foiled off an opponent.
