When the time came, it was Darwin Núñez who delivered. Jürgen Klopp had the better substitutes to turn to — not a given considering the current injury situation, but it was that, in the end, which turned the game Liverpool’s way.
Nottingham Forest fumed at the referee, Paul Tierney, but the reality was clear. The game could have gone either way, but Núñez just about tipped the balance in favor of the Premier League leader.
Whatever happens in the Manchester derby later this weekend (or in Sheffield United vs Arsenal, for that matter), Liverpool will be ahead of Manchester City when the sides kick off at Anfield. Arsenal, should it win against Sheffield United and then Brentford, could temporarily take the lead with around a quarter of the campaign to go.
Arsenal brought itself back into contention again with a victory over Liverpool a few weeks ago. Few would argue against Liverpool and Manchester City being big favorites, though, and it is that pair who face off next.
Clark was more than ready for his first Premier League start, but Joe Gomez is not a midfielder. This was not exactly news to anyone, but it was certainly confirmation of both of those things.
Clark was superb for as long as he was on the field. He was more than happy to take the ball under pressure and has a real ability with the ball at his feet. This was the first appearance from the off that he has made in the league, but it won’t be the last. Alongside the returning Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai, it was a triple boost for the Reds.
It might be the last time that Gomez plays for Liverpool in the center of the field, though. The only reason that he was playing there here was because Liverpool was missing so many other options.
What comes next is not clear in terms of where he stands in the pecking order but he has effectively made himself the new James Milner. Few players in the current squad are as versatile and Gomez is reaping the rewards with the minutes he is getting.
