NOTTINGHAM: Alexis Mac Alli­ster’s 97th-minute goal rescued Liverpool from a lacklustre performance to beat struggling Notting­ham Forest 1-0 on Sunday in a huge boost to their chances of Champions League football next season.

Forest’s fourth manager of the season, Vitor Pereira, was taking charge for the first time in the league and his side looked set to earn a deserved point until a dramatic finale.

Mac Allister had a goal ruled out when he charged down Ola Aina’s clearance in the closing stages.

The ball was deemed to have struck the Argentine midfielder on the arm.

However, to Pereira’s fury, Forest did not heed the warning as they sliped to within two points of the Premier League relegation zone.

Mac Allister swept home a rebound after Virgil van Dijk’s header was saved.

After another lengthy VAR rev­iew, this time the call went in Live­rpool’s favour despite Hugo Ekitike standing in an offside position.

Liverpool remain in sixth but climb level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United and within six points of Aston Villa.

Thanks to the strong performance of English sides in European competition this season, a place in the top five will almost certainly secure Champions League qualification.

Liverpool were dealt a blow before kick-off when Florian Wirtz picked up an injury in the warm-up.

The German’s ingenuity was badly missed in a performance badly lacking in attacking impetus until a late rally saved their blushes.

Meanwhile, Fulham climbed above Sunderland into the top half of the table after becoming just the second visiting side to win at the Stadium of Light this season. Raul Jimenez’s double secured a 3-1 victory for Marco Silva’s men.

The Mexican striker headed in Alex Iwobi’s corner before maintaining his perfect penalty record in the Premier League from 13 spot-kicks.

Enzo Le Fee’s penalty pulled a goal back for the Black Cats before Iwobi rounded off the scoring.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace eased the rising discontent at Selhurst Park with just a second win in 16 games.

Evann Guessand’s first Palace goal in the 90th minute beat 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0.

Tolu Arokodare’s first-half penalty was saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Ladislav Krejci was then sent off for kicking the ball away on the hour mark as bottom-of-the-table Wolves missed the chance to move above Derby’s unwanted record low of 11 points in a Premier League season.

On Saturday, Manchester City remained in pursuit of the title after a hard-fought 2-1 home win over Newcastle United.

Nico O’Reilly scored both City goals in the first half before a resolute defensive display after the break ensured Pep Guardiola’s side bagged three vital points.

Not long ago, with City dropping points, it seemed Arsenal had a vice-like grip on the title race.

But successive draws have opened the door ajar and City, while not the relentless force they were when reeling off four successive titles, are beginning to smell blood.

Arsenal have 58 points also from 27 games and can ill afford to drop points at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

“I won’t say a statement win but it puts us in a really good position moving forward,” City defender Marc Guehi said.

At the London Stadium, West Ham United played out a turgid draw with visiting Bournemouth. It was the sixth successive Premier League sta­l­e­mate between the sides.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2026