Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas celebrate Liverpool's equaliser at Nottingham ForestGetty Images

Jota had been on the pitch for just 22 seconds when he scored Liverpool's equaliser

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at The City Ground

Liverpool had to come from behind to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in an enthralling draw with surprise challengers Nottingham Forest.

Forest, chasing a seventh successive league win for the first time since 1922, took the lead after only eight minutes when Chris Wood applied a clinical finish to Anthony Elanga's pass.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side survived in relative comfort as they tried to complete the league double over Liverpool, until head coach Arne Slot's substitutions had an instant impact after 66 minutes.

Diogo Jota had only been on the pitch 22 seconds when he headed in a corner from another substitute, Kostas Tsimikas, the pair having just come on for Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konate.

Jota threatened to turn the game on its head completely, forcing two fine saves from Forest keeper Matz Sels, while Mo Salah saw a late effort blocked on the line as Liverpool dominated the second half after a lack-lustre first period.

Forest remain in second place and on this form, in the wonderful atmosphere at The City Ground, they show all the signs of maintaining that lofty status.

Forest show they are in race to stay

Nuno praises Forest's 'incredible' determination against Liverpool

Nottingham Forest's fans gave their players a thunderous reception at the final whistle after they put in a monumental shift to earn a point.

Manager Nuno will be desperately frustrated that a defence that is so magnificently drilled, led by the outstanding Murillo backed up by a top-class keeper in Selz, got caught at a corner for Liverpool's equaliser.

Otherwise, this a performance from Forest that demonstrated exactly why they have emerged as this season's surprise package and why they deserve their place near the top of the Premier League.

Wood's opener was classic Forest, indeed classic Nuno, Liverpool caught cold as Elanga slid the ball through for Wood, who finished with the confidence that has typified his campaign as he scored his 13th league goal.

Forest then ceded possession to Liverpool with trust in their fierce discipline and organisation, with Murillo a towering figure alongside Nikola Milenkovic.

And when Liverpool did break through, Sels formed a formidable barrier, keeping out a typical late Liverpool surge as Forest secured a point.

Liverpool pay price for slow start

Slot concedes Liverpool 'should be disappointed' with 1-1 draw at Forest

Liverpool could so easily have won this game as they dominated the second half, only denied by a succession of saves from Sels in a final flurry after Jota's equaliser.

In reality, however, Liverpool were again short of their best, especially in the first half when they were laboured and sloppy after they went behind, allowing Forest to drop into that deep defensive block that is so hard to pierce.

Liverpool, after a spell when they looked unstoppable, have had a dip in the past fortnight, drawing with Manchester United at Anfield and here at Forest, as well as losing to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

Slot looked as animated and frustrated as at any time this season, particularly in that first 45 minutes, but Liverpool came on strong after the break and only Forest's defensive heroics and the keeping of Sels kept them out.

This was not Liverpool at their best – but this was still a position they would have been delighted with if it had been offered at the start of the season.