Ratings: A Shaky Back Line, a Toothless Middle, and One Undeniable Bright Spot

Our verdict on how each Liverpool player fared in a chaotic 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, a game the Reds somehow avoided losing despite trailing twice at Anfield under new head coach Andoni Iraola.

The Ratings

• Alisson Becker, 7/10. Not much he could do about either goal and produced a strong stoppage time save before the break to keep the scoreline respectable.
• Jeremie Frimpong, 4/10. Full of running in the final third but exposed far too often defensively, particularly in the buildup to Forest’s opener. Withdrawn after 71 minutes.
• Milos Kerkez, 4/10. Quiet without the ball and never really imposed himself on the game at either end. Withdrawn after 71 minutes.
• Jeremy Jacquet, 7/10. Had a hand in the opening goal but recovered well, including one crucial block, before tiring in the second half. Withdrawn after 76 minutes.
• Virgil van Dijk, 6/10. Vocal throughout but could not organise a back line that kept switching off at key moments.
• Alexis Mac Allister, 6/10. Squeezed out of the game by a more physical Forest midfield and rarely dictated the tempo. Withdrawn after 76 minutes.
• Dominik Szoboszlai, 6/10. Busy without being especially effective, though he grew into the game and tried an ambitious effort from distance.
• Florian Wirtz, 6/10. Unlucky to see an early equaliser ruled out and ended up the architect of both Liverpool goals.
• Alexander Isak, 5/10. Anonymous for long spells but in the right place to turn home Gakpo’s cross for the equaliser.
• Victor Munoz, 8/10, Man of the Match. Some of his decision making in the final third still needs polish, but his willingness to keep running at defenders paid off with a powerful, well struck equaliser.
• Cody Gakpo, 5/10. Went missing for large periods before delivering the pinpoint pass that set up Isak’s goal. Withdrawn after 71 minutes.
• Ryan Gravenberch, 5/10 (on 71 minutes). Added some physical presence but little else of note.
• Rio Ngumoha, 6/10 (on 71 minutes). Brought some much needed unpredictability from the bench.
• Kostas Tsimikas, 6/10 (on 71 minutes). A tidy, experienced option once introduced.
• Ronald Araujo, 6/10 (on 76 minutes). Offered extra composure at the back late on.
• Trey Nyoni, 6/10 (on 76 minutes). Showed some encouraging touches in a brief cameo.
• Andoni Iraola, 7/10 (manager). Made the expected changes to his starting eleven, and while his second half substitutions lacked conviction, the response he eventually got was better than the display that preceded it.

Isak on the day

Speaking afterwards, Isak was honest about a sluggish start that Liverpool once again had to fight back from.

There’s no problem in the fighting spirit, never giving up. We started the game really badly today. When we gain momentum, when we score a goal, we need to do better.

— Anfield Sector (@AnfieldSector) August 29, 2026

Our take

Strip away Munoz’s cameo and this was a difficult watch for Liverpool supporters. The full back positions still look unresolved, the midfield could not control possession against a well organised Forest side, and Iraola’s bench failed to change the pattern of the game when it mattered. The individual ratings tell their own story, with more players in the five and six bracket than anyone at Anfield would like, and only one genuinely standout mark on the sheet. Encouraging in isolation, but not remotely enough on its own.