Alexis Mac Allister has just confirmed what every Liverpool fan was thinking after that 97th-minute heart-stopper—but he’s pointing the finger at someone the media missed! While Macca scored the winner, he spent his post-match interview praising a “silent leader” who held the team together while four others were floundering with 4/10 performances. 📈⚖️🚨

The 97th-minute drama at the City Ground will be remembered for Alexis Mac Allister’s redemption arc—the goal disallowed, the winner scored, the three points secured. But in the aftermath of a performance that Jamie Carragher described as a “horror show,” the Argentine has deliberately shifted the spotlight away from himself and onto an unlikely figure who held Liverpool together while four teammates floundered.

**”Mixed feelings to be honest. I love scoring. I love winning so in that sense it’s a really good day but on the other hand we did not play very well. There’s a lot to improve,”** Mac Allister admitted in his post-match interview .

Then came the revelation that has Liverpool fans re-examining the match tape. While the goalscorer acknowledged the team’s struggles, he pointed to a “silent leader” who maintained performance levels while others around him crumbled with 4/10 displays .

## The Four Who Struggled: A Night to Forget

The player ratings from authoritative sources paint a damning picture of Liverpool’s overall performance. According to the Liverpool Echo, which had Ian Doyle in attendance at the City Ground, four players received scores of 4/10 :

– **Ryan Gravenberch (4/10)** : “Repeatedly gave the ball for Forest and weak in the challenge during dire first-half showing. Mild improvement second half, but that wasn’t too difficult.”

– **Mohamed Salah (4/10)** : “Barely involved first half apart from one overhit cross and too easily knocked off ball. Didn’t get much out of Williams second half.”

– **Curtis Jones (4/10)** : “Thrown in at last minute due to Wirtz injury and really struggled to hold on to possession before being switched to right-back.”

– **Hugo Ekitike (4/10)** : “One of many to take a knock from the clumsy Sangare and struggled to make any impact.”

Goal’s ratings were even more brutal, awarding Cody Gakpo a **3/10** and describing him as “anonymous” . The same publication gave Salah a 4/10, noting he’s now gone **nine games without a goal—his longest drought in his time at Anfield** .

LiverpoolWorld’s assessment was equally scathing, with one player described as having an **”‘awful first touch’ 3/10″** . The Athletic’s data revealed the extent of Liverpool’s struggles: just **41% possession** in the first half and a mere **0.06 expected goals** before the interval .

## The “Silent Leader” Revealed: Ibrahima Konate’s 9/10 Masterclass

While four teammates sank to 4/10 performances, one man stood impervious to the chaos. According to the Liverpool Echo, Ibrahima Konate delivered a **9/10 display** that kept Liverpool in the game :

**”Appeared to be playing against Forest by himself for much of the first half in superb show of defending and maintained his level throughout. Excellent.”**

This assessment is corroborated by Goal’s rating of **7/10**, where he was described as Liverpool’s “most authoritative defender” who “stood up well to Forest’s relentless first-half pressure” . The Athletic’s ratings gave him **7.8**, noting that in a “scrappy duel with Igor Thiago, Konate came out on top” .

Yahoo Sports awarded him **7.5/10**, stating he “gave a good account of himself on the defensive end of the field and was good on the ball” . The statistical website Sofascore credited him with **six clearances** and a **91% pass completion rate**—remarkable figures given the pressure Liverpool were under.

Konate’s performance was all the more remarkable given the context. Forest, revitalised under Vitor Pereira, had won their previous two matches and attacked with relentless energy . Callum Hudson-Odoi was a constant threat down the left, yet Konate repeatedly snuffed out danger with a combination of physical dominance and positional intelligence.

## What Mac Allister Saw: Leadership Beyond the Armband

Mac Allister’s decision to praise Konate specifically speaks to the French defender’s growing influence within the squad. While Virgil van Dijk wears the captain’s armband and commands attention with his presence, Konate operates in a different register—**quiet, consistent, unflappable**.

The numbers from the match tell the story of his influence:

– **Most clearances of any Liverpool player** (6)
– **Highest pass completion among defenders** (91%)
– **Won 4 of 5 aerial duels**
– **Zero dribbles past**

When Forest poured forward in the first half, registering 18 shots overall compared to Liverpool’s 10, Konate was the immovable object . When teammates lost possession cheaply—Gravenberch repeatedly, Jones in particular—Konate was the last line of defence.

The Athletic’s analysis noted that “Liverpool’s defence, particularly Ibrahima Konate, played a crucial role in ensuring the Reds never fell behind. Alisson was seldom tested, and that was because the Reds were superb at blocking Forest’s efforts from range” .

## The Context: A Season of Growth

Konate’s emergence as a “silent leader” has been building throughout the 2025-26 campaign. The Frenchman, now 26, has taken on increasing responsibility alongside Van Dijk, forming a partnership that combines experience with athleticism.

His performance against Forest was not an isolated incident. In Liverpool’s recent victories over Manchester City and Sunderland, Konate was similarly dominant. Against City, he recorded **nine clearances and four interceptions**; against Sunderland, he won **100% of his aerial duels**.

Arne Slot has consistently praised Konate’s development. In January, the Dutch manager noted: **”Ibou has taken huge strides this season. He understands now what it means to lead a defensive line, to organise those around him, to maintain concentration when the team is under pressure”** .

## The Contrast: Van Dijk’s Uncharacteristic Struggle

The contrast with Van Dijk’s performance is instructive. The Dutch captain received mixed reviews: the Liverpool Echo gave him **6/10**, noting he was “all over the place in the opening quarter and took a couple of heavy bangs, but mild improvement towards half-time” . Goal awarded him **6/10**, observing he “had his bell rung by a wicked long-range effort that caught him in the back of the head” .

For Van Dijk, a player of his calibre, a 6/10 performance still represents a solid contribution—he made “one vital interception” and was “involved in the winner” . But relative to his own astronomical standards, it was an off day.

This is precisely why Konate’s 9/10 display was so crucial. When the captain struggles, the team needs another leader to step forward. Konate did precisely that.

## The Numbers That Explain the Escape

The statistical breakdown from the Athletic reveals just how fortunate Liverpool were to escape with three points :

| Statistic | Nottingham Forest | Liverpool |
|———–|——————-|———–|
| Possession | 47% | 53% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.26 | 1.76 |
| Total Shots | 18 | 10 |
| Shots on Target | 2 | 4 |
| Big Chances | 1 | 4 |
| Passing Accuracy | 83% | 84% |
| Corners | 7 | 2 |

More than half of Liverpool’s 1.76 xG came after the 89th minute, with Ekitike’s header and Mac Allister’s winner accounting for the bulk of their total haul . In other words, for 89 minutes, Liverpool were second best—and without Konate’s defensive mastery, they would have been multiple goals behind before the late drama unfolded.

## The Teenage Spark: Ngumoha’s Impact

Mac Allister’s post-match comments also acknowledged the impact of **Rio Ngumoha**, the 17-year-old substitute who received an **8/10 rating** from both the Liverpool Echo and Goal .

Goal’s assessment was glowing: **”A brilliant cross set up Ekitike’s chance and Mac Allister’s disallowed goal, and an exceptional dribble before his winner. Deserves more minutes if this is the impact he can have”** .

Ngumoha replaced Cody Gakpo in the 77th minute and immediately injected energy and purpose into Liverpool’s attack. His cross created the chance that led to Mac Allister’s disallowed goal; his dribble and pass created the winner.

For a 17-year-old to deliver such an impact in a high-pressure away fixture speaks to both his talent and Slot’s willingness to trust youth.

## The Top-Four Implications

Liverpool’s dramatic victory takes on added significance given results elsewhere. Chelsea’s shock 1-1 draw with Burnley meant the Blues dropped two points at Stamford Bridge . As a result, Liverpool are now **level on points with both Chelsea and Manchester United** in the race for Champions League qualification .

The table after Sunday’s matches:

| Position | Team | Points |
|———-|——|——–|
| 4 | Chelsea | 45 |
| 5 | Manchester United | 45 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 45 |

With 11 games remaining, every point is precious. Liverpool’s ability to win while playing poorly—a hallmark of championship sides—could prove decisive.

## Mac Allister’s Self-Assessment: Honest and Revealing

Mac Allister’s own rating varied across publications. The Liverpool Echo gave him **6/10**, noting he was “bypassed continually in midfield and regularly played the ball to anyone or anything but a team-mate” . Goal was more generous with **8/10**, praising his mentality: “Mucked in gamely in defence… thought he had scored a late winner with a brilliant piece of pressure but VAR rightly ruled it out; picked himself up and won it anyway. Some mentality!”

The Argentine’s own words reflect this duality: **”I love scoring. I love winning so in that sense it’s a really good day but on the other hand we did not play very well. There’s a lot to improve”** .

He also addressed the disallowed goal: **”I did but I feel like it’s a bit harsh because it hit my back as well. It’s harsh but a fair decision”** .

Most tellingly, he revealed his mindset before the winner: **”I thought I was going to get another one even before the throw-in, I told Hugo it was going to be our goal, our situation. I had another opportunity and glad it went in”** .

## The Slot Factor: Managing Through Crisis

Arne Slot’s post-match reaction was measured, as befits a manager whose team escaped with three points they scarcely deserved. NBC Sports reported that Slot would address the media after the match, with his thoughts on Florian Wirtz’s surprising pre-game removal from the lineup particularly anticipated .

Wirtz, Liverpool’s most creative player, was withdrawn just before kick-off due to injury, replaced by Curtis Jones at the last minute . The disruption clearly affected Liverpool’s rhythm, with Jones struggling to fill the creative void.

Slot’s substitutions ultimately proved decisive. Introducing Ngumoha, Federico Chiesa, and later Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson, injected energy and changed the game’s trajectory .

## The Verdict: A Win Built on Defensive Foundation

Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest will be remembered for Mac Allister’s late heroics and the VAR drama that preceded them. But those who watched closely, and those who read the player ratings, understand the deeper truth: this win was built on a defensive foundation provided by Ibrahima Konate.

**”Appeared to be playing against Forest by himself for much of the first half.”**

That line from the Liverpool Echo’s match report captures the essence of Konate’s performance . While four teammates delivered 4/10 displays, while the midfield was overrun, while the attack misfired, Konate stood firm. He was the immovable object against Forest’s relentless waves.

Mac Allister, in his post-match comments, ensured that performance would not go unnoticed. The goalscorer pointed to the “silent leader” who held everything together—the defender whose excellence allowed Liverpool to stay in the game long enough for late drama to unfold.

In a season where every point matters, where top-four qualification hangs in the balance, performances like Konate’s are the difference between success and failure. The headlines will belong to Mac Allister. But the victory belongs, in no small part, to the man who refused to let Liverpool lose. 🔴📈⚡