Nottingham Forest Stun Liverpool To End Arne Slot’s Honeymoon
Nottingham Forest shocked Anfield with a 1-0 victory on Saturday, halting Liverpool’s flawless run under manager Arne Slot.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the only goal 18 minutes from time to secure Forest’s first away league win against Liverpool in 55 years.
Liverpool had won all three opening games under Slot without conceding, including a 3-0 win away at Manchester United two weeks ago.
But the Reds were sloppy and sluggish after the international break and made to pay.
Luis Diaz was unlucky not to spark the home side into life when he robbed Ryan Yates and smashed a shot off the inside of the post midway through the first half.
Diogo Jota volleyed straight at Matz Sels, who then denied Alexis Mac Allister with a header. Still, Liverpool never managed to click through the gears against a well-organised Forest side, who are yet to lose in the Premier League this season.
The visitors did ride their luck when Sels fumbled a looping Diaz header and just scooped up the loose ball before it crossed the line.
Slot tried to liven up Liverpool with a triple change on the hour mark as Diaz, Jota, and Mac Allister were sacrificed after their exertions on international duty.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was pushed forward into midfield as a result, but the move backfired as Forest’s substitutes were the ones to make a difference.
Anthony Elanga sprinted forward on the counter-attack and fed Hudson-Odoi, who cut inside and fired brilliantly low and hard beyond Alisson Becker.
Slot’s men failed to rally and the stands at Anfield even began to empty with five minutes remaining, a rare sight during Jurgen Klopp’s glorious reign in charge.
The defeat leaves the Reds three points behind champions Manchester City, who stretched their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 win over Brentford.