NOTTINGHAM (Reuters) – Taiwo Awoniyi said scoring Nottingham Forest’s winner against Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday was a moment he would never forget as he returned to haunt his former club.
The 25-year-old Nigerian forward joined Liverpool as a teenager in 2015 but spent the majority of his Anfield career out on loan in Germany and Belgium before being sold in 2021.
Awoniyi joined Forest from Union Berlin for around 18 million pounds ($20 million) in June, heralding a frenzied summer of spending by the former English champions as they returned to the top flight for the first time since 1999.
But of all the 20 plus signings the club has made, Awoniyi might just prove to be the most important.
His third goal for Forest on Saturday was an instinctive poacher’s effort from close range but he ran Liverpool’s defence ragged at times with his pace and power.
He also scored the winning goal in Forest’s only other league win so far this season, against West Ham United, and if Forest are to survive he will be a key factor.
“For me I’m happy but the most important thing is the three points. Now we have to build on it,” he said.
“To score against Liverpool is a day I will never forget. I will always to be grateful to Liverpool for scouting me from Nigeria and scoring against them is amazing.
“This kind of game we have to look back on it and build on it. The game is over and now we concentrate on the next one.”
Awoniyi, who barely celebrated his goal, was congratulated by Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp.
“He had a sensational development. He has arrived where he belongs and I am happy for him, but not today so much.”
Forest’s win followed a 0-0 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion in midweek and lifted them off the foot of the table.
There is a long way to go but there are signs that the hastily-assembled squad is knitting together under Steve Cooper.
“We’re feeling very satisfied with our work,” the Welshman, who has extended his contract at Forest despite their early struggles, said. “This is not the end, this has got to be a part of the start. We get back in on Monday and work even harder.
“We’ve been on a difficult run but, I told the boys, I’ve not seen them hide, shy away or sulk. I’ve seen the opposite. That’s given me reassurance.”
($1 = 0.8848 pounds)
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
