Arne Slot suffered an agonising first defeat as Liverpool manager as Nottingham Forest ended their 55-year wait for another win at Anfield with a 1-0 triumph in the Premier League.
Chance after chance went begging for the Reds in front of their pained supporters, and Slot’s attackers were taught a lesson in attacking ruthlessness by Callum Hudson-Odoi, whose slick second-half finish sparked Forest pandemonium.
Bidding to become the first Premier League manager to win their first four games in charge while keeping four clean sheets, Slot witnessed his players take control of proceedings from the off, but they often ran into a Garibaldi brick wall.
While Forest’s first-half display may have been described as combative by some, the disgruntled home crowd may have used a different adjective, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s men effectively disrupted the Reds’ momentum; Ryan Yates and Alexis Mac Allister often found themselves in a tangle.
Luis Diaz hit the post from a tight angle, but that was as close as the Reds came to breaking the deadlock in the first half, and there was only frustration for the Anfield faithful at the start of the second too.
As Liverpool were found wanting in front of goal, Forest’s Hudson-Odoi showed the hosts how it is done with a beautiful strike in front of the away end, whose side subsequently survived some more futile Reds pressure for a famous victory.
Now three points behind still-perfect Manchester City at the summit, Liverpool are also just one clear of their fourth-placed visitors, who remain unbeaten in the top flight after four games as the Tricky Trees pull up trees at this early stage.
All of Liverpool’s possession, all of Liverpool’s pressure, and all of Liverpool’s opportunities, but Forest have defended for their lives and take a shock lead with just 18 minutes of normal time to play!
Hudson-Odoi – overlooked for a place in the starting XI – cuts inside Conor Bradley with ease and lets fly from the edge of the D with a right-footed shot, which Alisson Becker can only watch nestle into the corner with the aid of the inside of the post.
It is close to the perfect strike and the Tricky Trees are on course for a huge upset!
While Hudson-Odoi’s winner was a sight to behold, it was all backs against the wall from Forest for the vast majority of the match, and goalkeeper Matz Sels certainly earned his keep.
Keeping new signing Carlos Miguel out of the team, the Belgian made five vital stops to keep the profligate Liverpool at bay and is more than justifying his selection in between the posts.
Possession: Liverpool 70%-30% Forest
Shots: Liverpool 14-5 Forest
Shots on target: Liverpool 5-3 Forest
Corners: Liverpool 7-2 Forest
Fouls: Liverpool 15-6 Forest
A first Champions League night as Liverpool manager awaits Slot on Tuesday, as his Reds side head to San Siro to meet old foes AC Milan in their first league phase match, where Federico Chiesa may make his debut after being left out of the squad for Saturday’s game.
The Merseyside giants then welcome Bournemouth to Anfield in their next Premier League game on Saturday, one day before Forest travel to Brighton & Hove Albion.
