Mac Allister’s Late Goal Secures Victory for Liverpool Against Nottingham Forest

Liverpool secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday, February 22, 2026, thanks to a 97th-minute winner from Alexis Mac Allister. The match was marked by controversy, with an earlier Mac Allister goal disallowed for a handball.

Controversial Decisions at the City Ground

The game saw two pivotal decisions involving Alexis Mac Allister. His first goal, scored in the 90th minute, was ruled out after a VAR review determined the ball had struck his elbow. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher affirmed the decision, stating the law was correctly applied, even acknowledging the misfortune for Mac Allister [1]. Some, like former Liverpool striker John Aldridge, expressed strong disagreement, even labeling the decision “corrupt” on social media [1].

Late Drama and the Winning Goal

Despite the disallowed goal, Mac Allister persevered, scoring the winning goal in the 97th minute. The goal came after a Virgil van Dijk header was saved by Stefan Ortega, with Mac Allister capitalizing on the rebound. There was some debate regarding a potential offside in the build-up, but Gallagher explained that the added time was justified due to the time taken for the VAR review of the first disallowed goal [1].

Match Overview and League Standings

The victory moves Liverpool to sixth place in the Premier League with 45 points, level with Chelsea and Manchester United. Manchester United has a game in hand against Everton [1]. The match also saw Florian Wirtz sidelined with an injury, with Curtis Jones taking his place in the starting lineup [2].

Player Ratings

According to Goal.com, key player ratings included:

• Alisson Becker (6/10)
• Dominik Szoboszlai (5/10)
• Alexis Mac Allister (96/100 – based on performance leading to the winning goal) [2]

Looking Ahead

Liverpool will look to build on this hard-fought victory as they continue their Premier League campaign, while Nottingham Forest will aim to bounce back from the disappointing late defeat.