Liverpool struggled to secure a late draw for the second consecutive Premier League match under new manager Andoni Iraola as they came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 result against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday. The late equalizer arrived in the 82nd minute from summer signing Víctor Muñoz, who struck a powerful shot off the crossbar following a through-ball from Florian Wirtz.
The match saw Liverpool twice respond after falling behind, with Alexander Isak leveling the score in the 60th minute after Dan Ndoye put Forest ahead in the first half. Forest regained the lead through Morgan Gibbs-White’s penalty in the 70th minute, awarded after goalkeeper Alisson Becker fouled Neco Williams. The penalty was awarded following a defensive lapse involving Liverpool newcomer Jeremy Jacquet, who lost concentration on a quick Forest throw-in.
This result followed a similar pattern from the previous weekend, when Liverpool also salvaged a 2-2 draw against Newcastle thanks to a last-minute penalty scored by Dominik Szoboszlai in Iraola’s first league match in charge. While the Reds have shown resilience and fighting spirit, defensive frailties remain a concern.
Saturday’s fixture was marked by off-field developments as well. Amit Bhatia, leader of an investor group that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, attended the game. The group has agreed to purchase a minority stake in Liverpool in a deal reportedly valued at $2.2 billion. Bhatia was seen on the pitch posing with Liverpool owner John Henry prior to kickoff.
The club also announced a significant transfer agreement, confirming a $166 million deal to acquire Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. Barcola’s arrival as a left winger is expected to limit Muñoz’s playing time despite the Spaniard’s strong showing and first goal since his move from Osasuna.
Elsewhere, newly promoted Hull City continued their impressive form with a 1-0 victory over fellow promoted side Coventry City at the CBS Arena, which hosted its first Premier League match since 2001. Liam Miller scored the match-winner in the 82nd minute, securing Hull’s second consecutive win and six points from two matches. Hull had previously shocked Manchester United with a 2-0 home victory last weekend.
At Bournemouth’s home ground, Everton midfielder James Tarkowski scored in stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw, adding to Bournemouth’s recent habit of conceding late goals. Everton remains unbeaten after a 2-0 opening victory over Crystal Palace and featured winger Iliman Ndiaye, who has reportedly attracted interest from Manchester City.
Manchester City extended their perfect start to the season with a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a header and added a late goal to complete his brace, while Rayan Cherki contributed two goals in the span of five minutes early in the second half. Palace briefly threatened when Yeremy Pino scored from a free kick that deflected off goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma but could not sustain the momentum.
Cherki, who marked his first Premier League brace, described his performance as “so-so” and acknowledged the need to prove himself under new coach Enzo Maresca. Manchester City sits atop the league table with six points, while Palace remains without a point after two games. Palace midfielder Adam Wharton commented on the team’s need for time to adjust to new coach Pierre Sage, who was appointed in June. “I thought we had good moments but we didn’t test their keeper enough,” Wharton said. “It is a disappointing result.”