For Liverpool, the journey back to Merseyside will be sweet. There really is nothing like a late winner, particularly in extra time of extra time as Slot stated, but the Dutchman will know that his team must improve.
Mohamed Salah had an off day and though he has upped his workrate off the ball since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, he has now gone nine Premier League games without a goal.
Against Forest he was replaced by Rio Ngumoha, who put in the cross that led to Mac Allister’s disallowed goal, and once again showed exactly why he’s so highly rated with an energetic performance.
“Ngumoha came on and had a bigger impact than Salah,” was the verdict of BBC pundit Pat Nevin on Radio 5 Live.
“He absolutely changed the game, this kid,” said Carragher.
Slot added: “He has incredible potential, otherwise, at 17 years of age, you don’t play as many minutes as he does in the Premier League, let alone at Liverpool.
“I don’t think there is any other 17-year-old who has played as many minutes in the Premier League.
“That tells you how much of a talent we think he is. He is making progress and that’s why you see him playing more and more.”
Ngumoha is yet to start a Premier League game for Liverpool but surely the wait won’t be long now.
“He gets stronger and stronger,” added Slot. “Apart from his moment when he had his one-v-one, there were also one or two other moments where he stood his ground.
“For him to show this already at 17 years of age, it says something about his talent.
“But as we all know, talent is only the start of his career, you need so many other things. Macca is a great example of mentality and that is something you need to have a career at this level.”
Liverpool certainly didn’t scintillate with their display in the Midlands but they showed the resilience of champions.
And there is still plenty of life in their season yet.
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