'Looked a bit more natural' -Steve Cooper on the benefit of having Awoniyi on the pitch v Liverpool

Nottingham Forest had issues with players availability at the top end of the pitch for their Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, which ended 3-0 in favour of the home team. 

The two-time European champions started the game without a recognized out-and-out striker with forwards Chris Wood (hamstring), Divock Origi (hip) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (thigh) unavailable for selection due to injuries. 

Forest boss Steve Cooper kept his cards close to his chest at his pre-match press conference as he was mum about the availability of Taiwo Awoniyi, who had been recovering from a groin problem. 

In truth, the Nigeria international was a surprise inclusion in the matchday 20 given that he was not spotted in the training footage in the build-up to the game. 

Awoniyi's recovery went according to plan as the timeframe for his return to action was one month after the date of his injury at Brentford. 

Speaking post-match, Cooper underlined that the introduction of Awoniyi in the  69th minute benefited his team. 

He told Forest TV shortly after the game against Liverpool: "With the changes of Taiwo coming on, he was only supposed to give us some minutes but we gave him a bit more. Just having a number 9 on the pitch looked a bit more normal, looked a bit more natural.

"If Wood played today or Divock, they just know the role and then Anthony goes into the normal position and Morgan can connect."

Goals from Liverpool front three Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah condemned Steve Cooper's side to their fourth loss of the season in the Premier League. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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