Mental STRENGTH

VIRGIL VAN DIJK says the nature of Liverpool’s last-gasp winner against Nottingham Forest is proof of the mentality that exists within Arne Slot's squad.

- By PAUL GORST Liverpool FC Correspondent [e-mail] @PTGorst

And the captain believes Alexis Mac Allister’s 97th-minute strike was just reward for a much-improved second half at the City Ground as the Reds went level on points with Chelsea in fourth.

The defending Premier League champions were second best during a poor opening 45 minutes but regrouped at the interval and had big chances after the break through Curtis Jones and Hugo Ekitike, who were both denied by Stefan Ortega.

Mac Allister thought he had won it in bizarre circumstances when blocking an attempted clearance from Ola Aina in the closing stages but a VAR check ruled it out for handball.

And van Dijk says the players deserve credit for not letting that decision stand in their way, with the Argentina midfielder making sure in the final seconds of the game.