LONDON: Victor Munoz saved Andoni Iraola from his first defeat as Liverpool manager with the late strike that rescued a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, while Hull beat Coventry to extend their dream return to the Premier League.
Forest were set to win at Anfield for the third consecutive season as Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White’s penalty twice put the visitors in front.
Alexander Isak briefly brought Liverpool level in the second half before Munoz’s deflected effort rescued a late point for the second time in Iraola’s two matches in charge.
“It’s quite clear the first half has been poor, we haven’t controlled the game,” Iraola said. “We improved a lot in the second half, much more intense, much quicker on the ball but not enough to win the game.”
After a 2-2 draw at Newcastle in his first game as Liverpool boss last weekend, Iraola had hoped for a memorable day to mark his first match in charge at Anfield.
But instead the former Bournemouth boss got a reminder of why he was hired to replace the sacked Arne Slot in the close-season.
Iraola could have Bradley Barcola to unleash by the time Liverpool are next in action at Ipswich on Friday.
The France winger has been one of the Reds’ top targets for months and a 106 million ($144 million) deal with Paris Saint-Germain, which could rise by a further 17 million, is reportedly close to completion.
“I cannot tell you anything right now. There are still things going on at this moment,” Iraola said. “Now we have to wait and look forward to having the squad on September 2, when this is who we are and can work with certainties.”
Hull substitute Liam Millar struck in the closing stages to steal a 1-0 win at Coventry.
Millar slotted home with eight minutes left as Hull won a battle between sides promoted from the Championship last term.
Having stunned Manchester United with a 2-0 victory last weekend, Sergej Jakirovic’s men have won both their matches in their first season in the top tier since 2016-17.
James Tarkowski’s stoppage-time equaliser earned Everton a 1-1 draw.
Alex Scott’s 41st-minute goal put Bournemouth ahead at the Vitality Stadium.
But Everton defender Tarkowski capitalised on a mix-up between Ryan Christie and Marcus Tavernier to drill home following a corner in the closing seconds.
Everton remain unbeaten after a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace last weekend, while Bournemouth were beaten 2-1 at Manchester City in Rose’s first game since replacing Iraola.
CITY THRASH PALACE
Late on Friday, Manchester City eased to a 4-1 win at Crystal Palace thanks to two goals each from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland.
Palace started brightly, but they went behind in the 17th minute when Haaland jumped to reach Antoine Semenyo’s cross and send a looping header beyond the despairing dive of Dean Henderson, for the Norwegian’s first goal of the new league campaign.
In an end-to-end affair, City’s Phil Foden spooned the ball over the bar in the 21st minute and Eddie Nketiah wasted an excellent chance for the home side early in the second half before Cherki netted in the 54th minute, dancing through the defence before poking the ball home.
Palace pulled a goal back two minutes later when Yeremy Pino’s free kick came back off the crossbar and bounced off the back of City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before hitting the post and dropping into the net.
But whatever hopes Palace had of staging a comeback were quickly snuffed out when French playmaker Cherki scored again in the 59th minute, flashing a deflected shot off Chris Richards and into the net for his second of the night.
Haaland picked up a pass from Foden and blasted home a typical left-foot shot in the 85th minute to complete the rout for Enzo Maresca’s side and give City the maximum six points from their opening two games.
