If emulating Bill Shankly is a priority for Arne Slot, then losing at home to Nottingham Forest is no big deal. After all, Shankly was the last Liverpool supremo to suffer a home league defeat to the Midlands club.
The odds of Forest’s unbeaten start to this Premier League season remaining intact longer than Liverpool’s were far from short at the start of the day given a trip to Anfield, where they had not won since 1969, was viewed as a greater challenge than those faced so far this term.
Slot’s faultless start to life at Liverpool had included a 100 per cent winning record after three games with no goals conceded. Forest had won once and drawn twice in the opening weeks of the campaign but the chances of them causing an upset were viewed as slim.
However a first half of stout defending, that admittedly saw the visiting side provide their hosts with opportunities to open the scoring, gave way to a more front-footed second 45 minutes and a goal scored in the 72nd minute that inflicted a first defeat on Slot’s tenure.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s plan of withstanding early pressure before releasing his more creative players late on worked a treat but the Forest head coach will have known his team were a little fortunate, too.
Callum Hudson-Odoi took his goal well — chopping onto his right foot and curling a shot in off the far post — after Forest again caused trouble on the counter attack. The winger had come on as a substitute eight minutes after half time and it was Anthony Elanga, another Forest change, who assisted in breaking the deadlock.
Story of the game
Slot had stuck with the same lineup for the third straight game and all of his starters had played during the international break.
They certainly lacked the rhythm and panache that had seen them look so serene in their opening victories, including the 3-0 triumph away to Manchester United prior to the break.
After the minute’s applause to remember Ron Yeats, one of Liverpool’s greatest players before kick-off, the home team conjured a collection of nearly-but-not-quite moments as Forest tried to frustrate them but almost shot themselves in the foot by providing an easy route to goal.
Ryan Yates’s attempt to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick was misjudged as Luis Diaz swooped in to steal the ball from the Forest centre back before trying to squeeze a shot between Matz Sels and his near post. His effort was true but struck the base of the upright.
Alexis Mac Allister’s deft cross with the outside of his boot to Diogo Jota at the back post was all about the quality of delivery rather than lacklustre defending. Yet the chance escaped Liverpool as the Portugal international didn’t know whether to go for a volley or header and instead kneed an effort straight at Sels.
The Forest ‘keeper also palmed away Mac Allister’s headed attempt but made a mess of a looping header from Diaz. The Belgian dropped the ball between his legs and only just about prevented it from crossing his goalline.
Forest began to make moves of their own after the interval. Ola Aina broke after Dominik Szoboszlai gave the ball away and played into Morgan Gibbs-White who then sent Chris Wood through on goal. Alisson parried the striker’s low effort.
Liverpool were lacking their usual rhythm and Mohamed Salah driving a shot at Sels was a rare incisive moment from them in the second half.
Slot made a bold triple change with an hour played, bringing on Darwin Nunez,, Cody Gakpo and Conor Bradley and also moving Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield. But it was the Forest substitutes that proved decisive. Elanga sliced over soon after coming on but ensured that the next counter was more fruitful.
Alexander-Arnold lost possession close to the Forest penalty area and Elanga broke down the right wing. The former United player curled a pass through the Liverpool defence that found Hudson-Odoi to the left of the Liverpool box.
The substitute cut across Bradley and onto his right boot before bending a shot that went in off the far post. It was right in front of the travelling Forest supporters who travelled north knowing that their side had not won in their last 27 visits to this stadium.
Apart from Neco Williams blocking Szoboszlai’s shot, Liverpool failed to muster anything in response meaning not only had Slot seen his new team concede the first goal under his stewardship but, more painfully, lose their first game, too.
