The Andoni Iraola era is yet to catch fire at Liverpool.
For the second straight weekend, Liverpool needed a late equalizer to rescue a point in the Premier League as summer signing Víctor Muñoz 's 82nd-minute strike earned a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
The Reds also drew 2-2 last week in Iraola’s first league match in charge — and on that occasion a stoppage-time penalty by Dominik Szoboszlai denied Newcastle.
There might be teething
problems early in Iraola's tenure — notably in defense, where Liverpool continue to look shaky — but at least there has been some fighting spirit.
Liverpool twice came from behind against Forest, with Alexander Isak scoring Liverpool’s first equalizer in the 60th to cancel out Dan Ndoye's first-half goal.
Then, after Morgan Gibbs-White converted a penalty to regain the lead for the visitors, Muñoz smashed in a shot off the crossbar after running onto a through-ball from Florian Wirtz.
In other matches, Hull beat fellow promoted team Coventry 1-0 away to make it two wins from two on its return to the top flight and Everton defender James Tarkowski scored in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Liverpool's match was attended by Amit Bhatia, the leader of an investor group — also containing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin — that has reached an agreement to buy a minority stake in the club for a reported estimated figure of $2.2 billion.
Bhatia posed for photos with Liverpool owner John Henry on the field ahead of the game against Forest, which was also preceded by news that the Reds have agreed to a $166 million deal to buy Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.
With Barcola playing primarily as a left winger, that is likely to mean reduced minutes for Muñoz but the Spaniard made his case for inclusion with a brilliant strike for his first goal since joining from Osasuna for 40 million euros ($46 million).
Liverpool is being undermined by some poor defending, though, with Jeremy Jacquet — another summer signing — caught out by a quick throw-in by Forest in the buildup to goalkeeper Alisson Becker fouling Neco Williams to concede the 70th-minute penalty converted by Gibbs-White.
The CBS Arena became the Premier League's latest new stadium as Coventry hosted a top-flight game for the first time since 2001 — when the club was playing at Highfield Road.
A big occasion for Frank Lampard's team was spoiled by Liam Miller's winner in the 82nd minute for Hull, which stunned Manchester United last weekend with a 2-0 home win.
Hull started the season as the big favorite for relegation but already has six points.
Another weekend, another painful stoppage-time concession by Bournemouth.
Tarkowski's goal in the first minute of added-on time came a week after Bournemouth lost 2-1 at Manchester City thanks to Josko Gvardiol's goal in the same minute.
Everton, which is unbeaten after opening with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, started Iliman Ndiaye — a winger who is reportedly of interest to Man City.
Omar Marmoush will start for Tottenham in its home match against Newcastle in Saturday's late kickoff, two days after joining on loan from Man City.
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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