Robbie Fowler kept his nose clean but Liverpool were denied their first away
win in the Premiership since Boxing Day by Pierre van Hooijdonk's superb
stoppage-time strike.
Two days after hitting the headlines for his controversial goal celebrations
against Everton, Fowler had a quiet match at the City Ground and was replaced by
Steve Gerrard 12 minutes from time.
And in the 92nd minute of the game, van Hooijdonk salvaged a scarcely deserved
point for Nottingham Forest with a 28-yard free-kick which curled beyond David
James and into the top corner.
Liverpool were unhappy at referee Dermot Gallagher's decision to penalise Paul
Ince for handball but van Hooijdonk was not complaining and he grabbed his sixth
goal of the season as the visitors missed out on their first League victory at
the City Ground since 1984.
Jamie Redknapp put his side in front after 15 minutes, sending a vicious
25-yard drive past a stationary Mark Crossley after Ince had touched a short
free-kick into his path.
Dougie Freedman equalised with a real poacher's goal on the hour, the Scot
stealing in unnoticed to stab the ball past James after van Hooijdonk had helped
on Alan Rogers' long throw.
Michael Owen atoned for two earlier misses 18 minutes from time when he raced
on to Redknapp's long pass and fired into the top corner for his 22nd goal of
the season.
However, van Hooijdonk's late strike gave Forest a draw which will do little
to help them in their battle to beat the drop.
Even though he did not play a major role in his side's performance, all eyes
were still on Fowler, whose antics against Everton are hardly likely to help him
when he faces an FA misconduct charge on Friday for an altercation with Graeme
Le Saux.
The 23-year-old has long complained about receiving vitriolic abuse from
Everton fans regarding unfounded rumours about drug taking, and the fallout from
Saturday - when he responded to those taunts by sniffing the goal-line - may
well have affected his performance against Forest.
He was certainly one of Liverpool's least effective performers, and was
targeted mercilessly by the Forest fans.
Even so, the visitors always looked in complete control, though they will be
kicking themselves for allowing Forest to snatch a point.
Fowler wasted two opportunities, firing wide from just inside the box and then
completely missing his kick after finding himself in space eight yards out.
And those errors ultimately proved costly for Liverpool, who dominated without
ever looking particularly impressive against a feeble Forest side.
Indeed, the hosts' two goals aside, it was the Anfield side who did virtually
all the pressing and would have been good value for victory.
Jamie Carragher and Christian Edwards challenged for Redknapp's deep free-kick
and they managed to help the ball against the post, while Carragher also headed
Patrik Berger's corner over from four yards.
Berger fired a drive against Fowler - the shot was going well wide before it
hit the striker - when he had time to pick his spot when Owen took centre
stage.
He saw one effort trickle just wide after his pace had taken him away from the
Forest defence and he also had a drive deflected wide after he had been released
by Fowler.
Carlton Palmer went agonisingly close to putting his side in front when he
curled a 20-yard shot beyond James but also the far post.
It appeared that was as good as it was going to get for Forest after Owen
punished the hosts for one lapse too many, as Liverpool held a lead they never
looked like losing until van Hooijdonk had the final say.
The City Ground club are still a long way short of safety at the foot of the
table with six matches to go - and despite the draw they could be just two
defeats away from a swift return to the Nationwide League.
Teams:
Nottm Forest: Crossley, Jean (Shipperley 88), Rogers, Johnson,
Gough, Bonalair, Palmer, Edwards, Harewood, Van Hooijdonk,
Freedman (Allou 78).
Subs Not Used: Chettle, Woan, Beasant.
Goals: Freedman 60, Van Hooijdonk 90.
Liverpool: James, Song, Staunton, Carragher, Matteo, Ince,
Redknapp, Berger, McManaman (Riedle 64), Fowler (Gerrard 78),
Owen.
Subs Not Used: Leonhardsen, Bjornebye, Friedel.
Goals: Redknapp 15, Owen 72.
Att: 28,374
Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook