Alexis Mac Allister scored a 97th-minute winner as Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest in a chaotic finish at the City Ground.
The Argentinian, who moments earlier had had a goal disallowed for handball, bundled the ball into the net from close range in front of thousands of delirious Liverpool fans.
Those supporters then had a second nervy wait but Virgil van Dijk, whose downward header was saved by Stefan Ortega before Mac Allister tucked in the rebound, was ruled onside.
This time his celebrations could continue after his earlier one was cut short when the video assistant referee had intervened.
Ortega had made a great save to deny Hugo Ekitike and as Ola Aina tried to clear the ball, his clearance hit Mac Allister’s and flew into the net. But the fortuitous goal was chalked off because the ball was deemed to have hit his elbow.
It was a high-octane finish to a match which had been largely devoid of goalmouth action.
Liverpool, who worryingly lost Florian Wirtz in the warm-up, were uninspiring for long periods but the victory moves them to 45 points, level with fourth-placed Chelsea and Manchester United in fifth.
Forest, buoyed on from their midweek European win over Fenerbahce, were arguably the better side and under Vitor Pereira, they are already showing encouraging signs.
Pereira kept faith with the starting XI that won in Turkey three days ago and they dominated the first half but failed to take their chances, with Callum Hudson-Odoi denied early on by a great save from Alisson.
Liverpool, who had more than a week to prepare for this game, were woeful in the opening 45 minutes. Arne Slot’s side managed just three touches in the Forest box, while the 12 shots they faced in the first half was the most since their 6-1 defeat at Stoke in 2015.
The visitors did improve after the break with Curtis Jones’ effort kept out by Stefano Ortega but until added time, that was Liverpool’s only attempt on target.
Forest came close too in the second half with Nikola Milenkovic heading wide. Pereira changed his entire frontline in the hunt for a winner but it was Liverpool who snatched it late on.
Forest remain 17th, two points clear of West Ham, who are 18th.
