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Liverpool’s new era under Andoni Iraola is off to a frustratingly familiar start. For the second consecutive Premier League match, the Reds surrendered a lead deficit, clawed back, and walked away with a single point instead of three, drawing 2-2 with Nottingham Forest at Anfield on August 29, 2026.
Two points from two games. That’s not exactly the opening chapter anyone at Anfield was hoping to write for the 2026/27 season.
Forest struck first, twice
Nottingham Forest came into this match desperate. Two losses to Leeds to open the campaign left Nuno Espírito Santo’s side pointless and searching for answers.
Dan Ndoye broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, giving Forest a first-half lead. The equalizer finally arrived in the 59th minute. Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s marquee striker, found the net to level things at 1-1.
Ten minutes later, Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up to convert a penalty in the 69th minute, restoring Forest’s advantage. Gibbs-White was arguably the best player on the pitch all afternoon, combining creative vision with the composure to bury a spot kick in front of 54,000 home supporters.
Víctor Muñoz scored in the 81st minute to make it 2-2, ensuring the hosts wouldn’t suffer their first home defeat of the campaign on Matchweek 2.
The Iraola project: patience required
Liverpool’s opening fixture produced the same scoreline: a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle United. In both matches, Liverpool found themselves chasing the game, relying on second-half recoveries rather than controlling proceedings from the start.
Florian Wirtz delivered another standout individual display, pulling strings in the final third and creating opportunities that his teammates couldn’t always finish.
Conceding four goals across two matches, including a penalty at home, suggests the back line hasn’t yet adapted to the new system’s demands.
Forest’s resilience and the road ahead
For Nottingham Forest, a draw at Anfield registers as a positive result regardless of context. After opening the season with two defeats to Leeds, picking up their first point of the campaign at Anfield is no small thing.
Gibbs-White’s penalty conversion was clinical, but his overall contribution — driving runs, intelligent positioning, relentless work rate — told a broader story about Forest’s ambitions this season. Ndoye’s opening goal also signaled that Forest have attacking options capable of hurting any defense in the league.
The frustration for Forest will be the inability to hold onto the lead. Twice they were ahead, and twice Liverpool pegged them back.
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