No one did better than Liverpool in the final minutes of the match" - that is the assessment of club legend Jamie Carragher after Alexis Mac Allister scored in the 90+7 minute, bringing a thrilling 1-0 victory for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest.
The Argentine international's miraculous goal at City Ground is the latest chapter in the dramatic series that has become Liverpool's specialty this season. This is a campaign associated with decisive goals in injury time. However, the habit of living within that fragile boundary has also made coach Arne Slot's team's journey to defend the throne many times chaotic.
7 out of Liverpool's 27 matches in the Premier League 2025-2026 had decisive goals scored after the 90th minute - the most in a season in the history of the league. Notably, four of those times they were victims. The risk of constantly pushing themselves into tight matches is revealing risks, especially in the context of unstable confidence and not really guaranteed squad depth.
I feel happy and relieved. We didn't play well, especially in the first half. But many times this season we played well but still lost. Today, perhaps we received more than we deserved. A draw would probably be more fair" - Slot admitted after the match.
That is the familiar caution of the Dutch coach, who has witnessed his team collapse in decisive moments many times. When the UEFA Champions League ticket is still uncertain, Liverpool needs to find a way to control the match better instead of constantly betting on the "90+ minute scenario".
Mental monster" and the price to pay
The ability to explode at the end of the match is Liverpool's DNA. They have scored 48 decisive goals from the 90th minute onwards in the Premier League - at least 12 more than any other team.
That spirit was defined under Jurgen Klopp, when he called his students "spiritual monsters" after the comeback against Southampton in 2019. The spirit of not giving up became a symbol of the identity of the Merseyside team.
Captain Virgil van Dijk also emphasized this factor after the victory against Forest, especially when Mac Allister was once denied a goal in the 90th minute for a hand touch.
I completely agree that we showed bravery. When the goal was disallowed, the motivation changed and the home fans believed they had a chance. But we put enough pressure and finally got what we needed" - Van Dijk said.
However, resilience also means that Liverpool often faces risks. Earlier this month, they were reversed 2-1 by Manchester City at Anfield, when Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal from a penalty in the 90+3 minute.
Liverpool have conceded four decisive goals in injury time this season - equal to the highest level in league history. They also dropped points against Leeds United and Fulham in a similar scenario. 8 points lost in injury time is the highest number in the league, directly affecting the season's situation.
After the defeat to Man City, Slot admitted that he cannot attribute everything to a single cause. "Each goal conceded is a different situation. We are progressing compared to 3-4 months ago, but that has not been reflected in the rankings. And that is the most important measure.
Game control problem
Even last season - when Liverpool won convincingly - they still rarely won big. Only 7 out of the last 20 matches of the 2024-2025 season won by a 2-goal difference or more. The desire to resolve the match early and more decisively is the reason why the club spent nearly 450 million pounds in the summer transfer window of 2025.
However, injuries to Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni have significantly limited the impact of new players, while Florian Wirtz still needs time to adapt to the fierce pace of the Premier League.
Mac Allister's goal in the 90+7 minute once again affirmed Liverpool's bravery. But if they want to maintain their position in the title race and Champions League spot, Slot's team understands that they cannot forever live on breathtaking moments. Because at the top, bravery is a necessary condition, while controlling the game is a sufficient condition.
The solution for Arne Slot
With Slot, there is clearly no immediate solution to end Liverpool's cycle of late goals - whether in a positive or negative direction - however, the return of key players in the next few weeks may bring an important boost.
Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong are expected to reappear in time for the match against West Ham this weekend, while Alexander Isak is approaching the day he returns to training with the whole team next month.
Isak promises to add the necessary firepower for Liverpool to solve the opponent sooner, instead of having to live on the 90+ minute moment. His presence will also share the scoring pressure with Hugo Ekitike, the striker currently leading the club's scoring list with 15 goals in all competitions.
