Andoni Iraola escaped defeat on his Anfield debut as Liverpool manager thanks to Victor Munoz's strike that salvaged a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest. Forest were set to win at Anfield for the third consecutive season on Saturday 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," said Iraola. "We improved a lot in the second half, much more intense, much quicker on the ball but not enough to win the game."Liverpool will hope to have Bradley Barcola to unleash by the time they are next in action at Ipswich on Friday. The French 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.Iraola said he was hoping for a special day to mark his first match in charge at the club's iconic home, but instead got a reminder of why he was given the chance to replace the sacked Arne Slot. The Dutchman led Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title in the 2024/25 campaign but was dismissed after finishing fifth last season.A record £450 million outlay on new signings 12 months ago continues to bear little return on investment as full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong were subbed off, while Isak and Florian Wirtz again struggled to make the impact expected for enormous transfer fees.And Liverpool remain brittle at the back as a Forest side that failed to score in their opening two games under Oliver Glasner created an abundance of chances. "There are two emotions I think," said Glasner. "Very proud of the performance and how we played, scoring two goals, but we all feel frustrated about the result because we have the feeling it could and should have been a win."Jeremy Jacquet had to produce a brilliant last-ditch block to deny Igor Jesus, and Ndoye headed narrowly wide before Forest took the lead on 24 minutes. Liverpool were a shambles at the back as a long punt forward saw Jesus bear down on goal. He was eventually dispossessed, but Gibbs-White teed up Ndoye to find the far corner.In keeping with his Liverpool career to date, Wirtz showed flashes of brilliance without stamping his authority on the game. The German playmaker was denied an equaliser when his goal was ruled out for offside against Frimpong in the build-up. At the other end a vital save from Alisson denied Ndoye a second in first-half stoppage time.Barcola's impending arrival could spell the end of Cody Gakpo's time at Anfield with Tottenham and Manchester City interested in the Dutch international. But Gakpo has been Liverpool's most effective forward in the opening two games of the season.His inch-perfect cross left Isak with a simple task of tapping home for the equaliser on the hour mark. Yet just as the home side were beginning the build momentum, they were struck by a sucker punch. Forest's new signing Liam Delap's quickly taken throw-in caught the Liverpool defence sleeping and Neco Williams was wiped out by Alisson as the goalkeeper raced off his line.Gibbs-White coolly sent the Brazilian number one the wrong way from the penalty spot to restore Forest's lead. Iraola emptied his bench to find a response and the decision to sacrifice Gakpo instead of Munoz paid off. Wirtz thread the eye of a needle with a through ball for the Spanish international, who blasted in off the crossbar for his first goal since joining from Osasuna.

* Sinner ruled out with knee injury, Alcaraz returns after layoff* Zverev arrives after winning French Open, making Wimbledon final* Shelton, Tiafoe and Fritz bidding to end American title drought The stars may be aligning for Novak Djokovic's quest to win a standalone record 25th Grand Slam at the US Open, with Jannik Sinner out injured and Carlos Alcaraz returning from a lengthy layoff, though Alexander Zverev remains a formidable obstacle.Since triumphing at Flushing Meadows in 2023, Djokovic has remained a force at the Grand Slams, but Alcaraz and Sinner have seized control of the men's game and shared 10 of the last 11 major titles.Attempts by the Serb to go clear of Margaret Court on the all-time list of major winners have repeatedly been thwarted by Alcaraz and Sinner, who have combined to beat him five times across the last six Grand Slams.Djokovic's best opportunity in years ended in a defeat by Alcaraz in this year's Australian Open final, but the 39-year-old is not short of belief as he eyes a fifth US Open title despite limited preparation and lingering physical issues."There is a word in Serbian called inat," Djokovic said in his new documentary that aired before the year's final major."When people doubt you, when everyone is basically against you, that's when you use that inat, that force of stubbornness to prove everybody wrong. That inat is quite widespread in the mentality of Serbian people."Circumstances have also broken more favourably for Djokovic than in recent years, with Sinner ruled out by a knee injury and Alcaraz back after more than four months out with a wrist issue that has left questions about his sharpness.Alexander Zverev may represent Djokovic's biggest obstacle, however, after finally ending his long wait for a maiden major title at the French Open before making the Wimbledon final to underline his credentials as a top contender in New York.ALCARAZ'S RETURN ADDS INTRIGUEAlcaraz's long absence has clouded his prospects, but the defending champion has built a reputation for producing his best tennis on the grandest stages and cannot be discounted despite the uncertainty surrounding his return.Despite Zverev's breakthrough and credible challengers in the draw, Swiss great Roger Federer believes Djokovic cannot be written off."Whenever Novak enters any tournament, for that matter, or a major, he'll have a shot," Federer told reporters in New York."I've seen what he can do, not just once, not just here or there. He's done it in every place at the highest of levels."As long as he's in the draw, there's a chance. That's also one of the reasons he's still playing, because he actually truly must believe he can still do it."SHELTON ON THE RISECanadian Open champion Ben Shelton and Cincinnati runner-up Frances Tiafoe spearhead a strong American challenge, while 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz will also fancy his chances of ending a 23-year wait for a homegrown men's champion.Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open winner, believes Shelton has thrust himself into genuine contention after shrugging off a tame first-round exit at Wimbledon to win the Montreal title earlier this month.Shelton remains difficult to gauge after an early exit in Cincinnati, with questions lingering over his ability to sustain his level over the course of a major."One thing to watch for is he has to take care of his business in the first week to be a contender in the second week," Roddick said on his 'Served' podcast."So far this year, that's been tough for Ben in majors ... the upside is four titles on different surfaces, and rightfully so, we talk about and wonder if this is someone who can win a Grand Slam."Beyond the established contenders, rising talents like Arthur Fils and Rafael Jodar will look to make a mark in New York, while last year's semi-finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime seeks to build on the joint best major run of his career.