Stubborn Forest halt Liverpool's Premier League title charge, Man City and Chelsea stumble

News Express |15th Jan 2025 | 924
Stubborn Forest halt Liverpool's Premier League title charge, Man City and Chelsea stumble

Chris Wood celebrating his opener for Forest Tuesday night




Liverpool's charge towards the Premier League title was halted by stubborn Nottingham Forest in a 1-1 draw between the top two on Tuesday as Manchester City's resurgence came undone in a 2-2 draw at Brentford.

Chris Wood fired Forest in front early on at a raucous City Ground, but Liverpool dominated almost the entire 97 minutes and got back on level terms thanks to substitute Diogo Jota's goal with his first touch.

Only a brilliant goalkeeping performance from Matz Sels denied the leaders victory, but the point maintained a six-point cushion over Forest for Arne Slot's men, who also have a game in hand.

Forest had won their last seven games in all competitions to raise the possibility of matching Leicester's incredible title win of 2015/16.

The in-form Wood had the home fans believing after just eight minutes when he slotted in Anthony Elanga's pass.

Liverpool enjoyed over 70 per cent possession and had 23 shots on goal but only posed a serious threat in front of goal after the break.

Jota had only been on the field a matter of seconds when he nodded in Kostas Tsimikas' corner.

Sels then made incredible saves to deny Jota, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo a winner, while Salah also had a goalbound effort cleared off the line.

"I could not have asked for more," said Slot. "Second half was outstanding.

"There are not many teams that can create so many chances against an opponent so defensively strong. Unfortunately we couldn't get a second."

Liverpool's second consecutive league draw opens the door for Arsenal to cut the gap at the top to four points when they host Tottenham in the north London derby on Wednesday.

MAN CITY, CHELSEA STUMBLE

Any suggestion City could get themselves back in the title race was ended in a late collapse in west London as Brentford struck twice in the final 10 minutes for a deserved point.

Phil Foden's double had City on course for a fourth consecutive win after a run of just one victory in 13 games.

However, the English champions' defending was not convincing all night and they were punished as Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard netted for the Bees.

Foden's return to the form that saw him crowned Premier League player of the year last season was the one positive for City.

But Pep Guardiola will reflect on a missed opportunity to make up ground on the top four as City remain down in sixth, 12 points off the top.

Foden produced a brilliant deft touch from Kevin De Bruyne's inviting delivery and then smashed in a rebound for his fourth goal in five league games.

Brentford wasted a host of chances before conceding but finally got some reward for their attacking endeavour when Wissa slotted in from Mads Roerslev's cross to become the club's all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League.

They completed the comeback in stoppage time when Norgaard's header had too much power for Stefan Ortega.

"We are not (at our best) and we didn't take the right decisions," said Guardiola. "It's fine, it's not a good place to come. Unfortunately, we couldn't win."

Fourth-placed Chelsea's miserable run extended to five league games without a win but they were grateful for captain Reece James' stoppage-time equaliser salvaging a point in a 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth.

Cole Palmer's cool finish from Nicolas Jackson's through ball had given Chelsea the perfect start.

But Bournemouth hit back through Justin Kluivert's penalty, before Antoine Semenyo's blistering near-post effort put the visitors in front.

James has endured another injury-hit season but showed his quality by curling home a free-kick at the death.

West Ham boss Graham Potter enjoyed a winning home debut as Fulham were beaten 3-2 at the London Stadium.

Carlos Soler, Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta were on target for the Hammers to take Potter's men above Manchester United and Tottenham into 12th. (AFP, excluding headline)

Comments

Post Comment

Man kills soldier with log of wood in Lagos, neutralised without delay

Man kills soldier with log of wood in Lagos, neutralised without delay

There’s Christian genocide in Nigeria, we welcome US intervention — CAN

There’s Christian genocide in Nigeria, we welcome US intervention — CAN

Why I slept with our maid — Married man tells court

Why I slept with our maid — Married man tells court

One of 25 abducted Kebbi schoolgirls escapes as army intensifies search for others

One of 25 abducted Kebbi schoolgirls escapes as army intensifies search for others

Organ-harvesting: Police nab suspect, rescue 4 victims

Organ-harvesting: Police nab suspect, rescue 4 victims

Nigeria's Oluwafunke Adeoye wins 2025 IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

Nigeria's Oluwafunke Adeoye wins 2025 IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

Lagos court sentences randy man to life imprisonment for defiling minor

Lagos court sentences randy man to life imprisonment for defiling minor

Sacrilege: Yobe community condemns grave’s desecration, pledges to support police investigation

Sacrilege: Yobe community condemns grave’s desecration, pledges to support police investigation

Lagos Govt. postpones planned Lekki-Ajah road rehabilitation

Lagos Govt. postpones planned Lekki-Ajah road rehabilitation

Alleged abuse of office: Otu dissolves Cross River LG Service Board

Alleged abuse of office: Otu dissolves Cross River LG Service Board

Saheed V The People of Lagos: When security is life (1)

Saheed V The People of Lagos: When security is life (1)

Open Letter to President Tinubu: Serial disobedience of court orders – Urgent request for Executive Intervention in the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and consideration of a nolle prosequi

Open Letter to President Tinubu: Serial disobedience of court orders – Urgent request for Executive Intervention in the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and consideration of a nolle prosequi

Ebonyi Labour Party chieftain drags alleged attackers to court

Ebonyi Labour Party chieftain drags alleged attackers to court

Catholic Priest shot dead, several residents abducted as gunmen storm Kaduna community

Catholic Priest shot dead, several residents abducted as gunmen storm Kaduna community

44 Federal Lawmakers write Tinubu, seek Nnamdi Kanu’s release

44 Federal Lawmakers write Tinubu, seek Nnamdi Kanu’s release

Pro-Wike PDP NEC expels Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Bode George, others

Pro-Wike PDP NEC expels Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Bode George, others

Security fears deepen over schoolgirls’ abduction, slain General amid new assaults

Security fears deepen over schoolgirls’ abduction, slain General amid new assaults

APC group charges Nentawe not to reduce his office, to focus on delivering Tinubu

APC group charges Nentawe not to reduce his office, to focus on delivering Tinubu

Gunmen kill Ebonyi commissioner’s brother

Gunmen kill Ebonyi commissioner’s brother

Senate halts consideration of Cocoa Management Board Bill after Tinubu’s request

Senate halts consideration of Cocoa Management Board Bill after Tinubu’s request

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 7:03 PM
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on

GOCOP Accredited Member

GOCOP Accredited member
logo

NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.

Contact

Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos State.
+234(0)8098020976, 07013416146, 08066020976
info@newsexpressngr.com

Find us on

Facebook
Twitter

Copyright NewsExpress Nigeria 2025