Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool result: Substitute Diogo Jota rescues point for leaders after Chris Wood’s opener

Substitute Diogo Jota struck a priceless equaliser as leaders Liverpool maintained a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 1-1 draw against an in-form Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

The Portuguese striker struck within seconds of taking to the field when he headed home fellow substitute Kostas Tsimikas’ corner with his first touch on 66 minutes.

Forest had been hoping to equal their club record of seven league wins in a row and took the lead on eight minutes when Chris Wood netted his 13th top-flight goal of the season from Anthony Elanga’s pass.

Liverpool improved following the interval and pushed for a winner with Jota seeing two big chances brilliantly kept out by an inspired Matz Sels, while Mohamed Salah had an effort kicked off the line.

The result sees Forest move up to second, six points behind Liverpool having played a game more. Third-placed Arsenal can cut the gap to the summit to four points if they beat Tottenham on Wednesday night.

"It’s just a coincidence," he told TNT Sports in a post-match interview on the pitch where his record of seven goals in seven matches v Forest was noted. "I obviously love to score goals. I scored with my first touch today and it gave the team some momentum. I had two more chances, I think, that could have given us the three points, but unfortunately I couldn’t."

On the incredible impact he made scoring from fellow sub Tsimikas’ corner: "I actually said to him, we were watching the FA Cup goal a couple of years ago (where Jota scored the winner) and we said we’d recreate it, you’d provide the assist and I’d score. It was one of those occasions when everything went right. But I’m not happy because we could have won."

He added: "I think the keeper made two great saves, but I obviously want to do better."

On the title race and staying unbeaten on the road: "I think there’s a long way to go. Every ground is hard in the league, even at home.  It’s one more point but we obviously wanted all three."

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RIO FERDINAND: "What an advert for the Premier League. It was a fantastic game of football. It was like an NBA game at times, you attack, we attack.

"It was two teams really going for it and two teams that left everything out on that pitch. They gave everything, they gave their all.

"The Forest goalkeeper and the centre back (Murillo) were two vital players and it tells you Liverpool were really going for this."

PETER CROUCH: "It shows how far Forest have come. They were disappointed (with a draw), they were really going for it.

"Credit to Arne Slot as well, taking Konate off and leaving Van Dijk on his own at the back. It was a basketball match. They were going for the win. Either side could have won it. It was a fantastic game with both sides trying to win it."

Are Nottingham Forest title contenders?

It certainly feels like it as they went toe-to-toe with the leaders and dug out a hard-fought point.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot suggested as much heading into this contest and his words rung true as Nuno Espirito Santo’s men moved into second place with another disciplined defensive display.

Liverpool remain six points clear at the top and unbeaten on the road in the PL this season.

The East Midlands outfit couldn’t complete a first league double over The Merseysiders for the first time since 1962-63, but have taken four points off Slot’s men this season and continue to impress.

Next up, Liverpool visit Brentford on Saturday. Forest host Southampton on Sunday. 

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool.

But Forest are defending exceptionally.

Sels thwarts the visitors again as he dives low to his left to claw away Gakpo’s deflected strike.

Seven minutes have been added.

Wood, Gibbs-White, Williams off.

Awoniyi, Moreno, Morato on.

Salah forces a fine save out of Sels and then sees his low strike cleared off the line by Aina from the resulting corner.

Liverpool will remain six points clear of Nottingham Forest, who will edge above Arsenal into second.

The Gunners can cut Liverpool's lead to four points if they beat Tottenham on Wednesday, albeit having played a game more.

TAA sends Salah racing after a ball in the inside-right channel but his touch is heavy and Sels is able to come out and gather.

Forest counter down the left with Elanga, who drifts past TAA but sees his low cross diverted away by Van Dijk.

Jota Silva on for Hudson-Odoi.

Szoboszlai feeds Salah on the right side of the area but the Egyptian flashes his shot way over the bar.

Szoboszlai lets fly from distance but Sels tips it past the post.

Salah races after long pass, jinks into the area and tumbles under pressure.

Jota follows up but his shot is blocked.

VAR checks for a penalty but there's nothing doing.

Jota thinks he's put Liverpool ahead from TAA's devilish cross, but Sels makes a sensational save!

Dominguez on for Yates.