I just saw single biggest reason that Liverpool remains in firm Premier League title control

Liverpool came from behind to draw 1-1 with Nottingham Forest. Diogo Jota emerged from the bench to earn his side a deserved point in a real Premier League battle.

In two games against Nottingham Forest this season, Arne Slot has seen his side score just one goal and pick up just one point. And yet, in the grand scheme of things, with his side still six points clear, things couldn’t be going much better.

It took a Diogo Jota header in the second half for Liverpool to draw level at the City Ground and then there were snapshots available. Mohamed Salah lifted a couple over the bar and Dominik Szoboszlai slammed a shot at Matz Sels from close range, but Liverpool never really created anything too clear-cut.

This, though, was against one of the Premier League’s best defenses, set up in a perfectly formed low block. If Nottingham Forest had decided to wear red and white stripes instead of its traditional all-red shirt, you could easily have squinted and mistook it for Atletico Madrid, desperately clinging to a narrow lead in a Champions League knockout tie.

Next season, the way things are going, Nuno Espirito Santo could get the chance to do just that. His side looks on course for the top four spots, and even fifth place might be good enough to make UEFA’s top competition. That would be some campaign.