Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola escaped defeat on his Anfield home debut on Saturday after a late strike from Victor Munoz secured a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest, according to AFP.
Nottingham Forest threatened to secure their third consecutive victory at Anfield as Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White put the visitors ahead. Alexander Isak briefly brought the Reds level in the second half before Munoz`s dramatic late equalizer rescued a vital point. The result leaves both managers searching for their first victory of the new Premier League campaign.
Iraola took charge of his first home fixture following a high-profile managerial transition after Arne Slot`s departure. The hosts struggled defensively throughout the first half, allowing Forest to exploit gaps in transition. Ndoye opened the scoring in the twenty-fourth minute after capitalising on defensive disarray, giving the visitors a well-deserved halftime advantage.
Liverpool responded after the interval with increased intensity, finding an equalizer on the hour mark through Isak following precise build-up play. However, defensive frailties struck again when goalkeeper Alisson conceded a penalty after a rapid Forest throw-in caught the backline unawares. Gibbs-White calmly converted from the spot to restore the visitors` lead and silence the home crowd.
With defeat looming, Iraola turned to his bench in search of an offensive spark. The decision proved decisive when substitute Munoz unleashed a powerful strike off the crossbar following a clever through ball. The dramatic late intervention salvaged a draw and spared the new manager an embarrassing home defeat.
Both teams will now use the upcoming training sessions to address defensive vulnerabilities before their next fixtures. Football analysts note that while Liverpool showed resilience to fight back twice, their early-season form highlights the urgent need for tactical stability and defensive reinforcement.
