Arne Slot’s First Defeat: Forest Spoil Liverpool’s Perfect Start

Arne Slot described his first defeat as Liverpool manager as “a setback,” while pundit Chris Sutton remarked that “the honeymoon is over” for the new boss. Slot had guided Liverpool to three consecutive wins without conceding since he took over from Jürgen Klopp in the summer. However, Nottingham Forest ended Liverpool’s unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory at Anfield, thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s decisive strike.

Forest achieved their first win at Anfield since February 1969. Despite Liverpool having more chances including a Luis Díaz shot that hit the post, Slot criticized his team for making too many errors and failing to capitalize on their opportunities. Forest disrupted Liverpool’s play effectively and used long balls to frustrate the home side leading to several missed chances.

This defeat marked Slot’s first in 30 matches, dating back to Feyenoord’s loss to Celtic in December 2023. Slot acknowledged the disappointment of losing at home to a team that typically doesn’t finish in the top 10, emphasizing that such a loss always carries weight. Liverpool supporters expressed visible frustration, with some leaving before the final whistle.

Sutton reporting for BBC Radio 5 Live, noted that Slot’s early success now faced overshadowing due to this defeat. Slot admitted that his team struggled against Forest’s long balls. He also noted that despite holding possession, Liverpool failed to create enough scoring chances. Nuno Espírito Santo, the Forest manager earned praise for his tactical decisions.

His choice to introduce Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga in the second half led to the winning goal. Nuno described the win as a proud moment for Forest, highlighting their resilience and effective counter-attacking play. Forest now hold two wins and two draws from their first four games.

Liverpool will face AC Milan in their upcoming Champions League match and Arne Slot may decide to make changes following this setback.