Callum Hudson-Odoi grew to become the primary participant to attain towards Arne Slot’s Liverpool within the Premier League and what a sucker punch it proved to be.
Nottingham Forest tasted victory at Anfield for the primary time since February 1969, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet pulled off essentially the most surprising of victories.
Solely Manchester Metropolis now keep a 100 per cent document within the English high flight and Liverpool should return to the drafting board after Slot’s superb begin at Anfield got here to an abrupt finish.
Gregg Evans and James Pearce analyse the important thing speaking factors….
Slot’s first setback – how will his workforce react?
Slot left the pitch with a face like thunder as Liverpool’s good begin to the season got here crashing down at Anfield.
The setback comes as the primary main blow to the top coach following his transfer from Feyenoord this summer time.
Liverpool’s efficiency was missing and regardless of various tactical adjustments all through the sport, it was the person within the away dugout who got here up with the mastermind plan.
Hudson-Odoi celebrates placing Forest forward (Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Photos)
Nottingham Forest stifled Liverpool within the first half after which held their nerve after taking the result in see out the primary victory at Anfield for 55 years.
Slot, who had managed all the pieces so properly in these early weeks of the season, had no reply and couldn’t spark a turnaround. His workforce pushed and probed however there was no finish product and finally they ran out of steam.
With a busy run of video games, it’s now on the Dutchman to choose the gamers up after a shocking defeat forward of the return to the Champions League this week. It’s his first main check within the Liverpool scorching seat.
Gregg Evans
Did the triple substitution repay?
Slot had been deep in dialogue with assistant Sipke Hulshoff on the touchline.
The groans from the stands have been rising louder as assault after assault broke down and the ultimate ball repeatedly let Liverpool down. A way of frustration was rising as a scrappy contest remained goalless.
Simply earlier than the hour mark, the Dutch head coach took motion with a daring triple substitution.
Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz, who predictably light following their worldwide duties in South America, have been changed, together with Diogo Jota.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will need to have feared the worst when he noticed Conor Bradley approaching however the vice-captain was moved into midfield to accommodate the Northern Irishman with Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo additionally launched.
But reasonably than enhance Liverpool, the adjustments truly made them much more disjointed. The dearth of fluency was alarming as promising strikes repeatedly broke down.
Nunez couldn’t present the attacking point of interest they wanted as his management let him down and it grew to become far too simple for Forest to play by way of the hosts once they counter-attacked.
Liverpool paid the value when Anthony Elanga picked out Hudson-Odoi, who minimize inside previous Bradley and curled a low shot into the far nook.
Liverpool react to going behind (Carl Recine/Getty Photos)
Slot responded with one other tactical tweak as he went to 3 on the again — bringing on Curtis Jones for Ibrahima Konate, whereas Kostas Tsimikas changed Andy Robertson — however to no avail.
James Pearce
Why did Liverpool supply so little up entrance?
On a day the place one scientific end from Nottingham Forest proved to be the distinction, it was Liverpool who have been clearly left missing up high.
Slot picked the identical ahead line that had began the season so properly, however there have been no moments of magic. Liverpool had 70 per cent possession and 34 touches inside Forest’s field however generated an xG of simply 0.87.
Mo Salah particularly was under par; first thwarted by Alex Moreno within the opening interval after which so wasteful in possession after the break. Jota had three pictures at aim however just one heading in the right direction and was out of the sport for giant durations earlier than his withdrawal on the hour.
Darwin Nunez was maybe unlucky to not get a begin after spending extra time coaching over the previous fortnight attributable to his worldwide suspension with Uruguay, however when he got here on he was quiet and couldn’t discover a spark.
Diaz went shut for Liverpool within the first half however was denied by the submit, whereas his alternative Cody Gakpo had little influence because the hosts went chasing the sport late on.
Federico Chiesa didn’t make the squad, however could also be wanted within the video games forward as Liverpool look to bounce again once they tackle AC Milan within the Champions League subsequent week.
Gregg Evans
What did Arne Slot say?
Chatting with BBC Radio 5Live, Slot stated: “(It was) disappointing. With out the ball I believe we did what we needed to do — we hardly conceded from any counter-attack aside from the one which led to the aim. However it’s a must to do a lot a lot better if in case you have 70 per cent ball possession; it’s a must to create rather more probabilities than the 2, three or 4 we had. It will have helped as properly if among the particular person performances had been a bit higher right now.”
What subsequent for Liverpool?
Tuesday, September 17: AC Milan (A), Champions League, 8pm BST, 3pm ET
Saturday, September 21: Bournemouth (H), Premier League, 3pm BST, 10am ET
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(High picture: Carl Recine/Getty Photos))