This was the day that Arne Slot found out that the Premier League is not all fun and games, as Liverpool and their manager were outwitted by Nuno Espírito Santo and Nottingham Forest. It was the first defeat of the Dutchman’s Anfield career after Callum Hudson-Odoi downed the hosts with a trademark goal.
Everything Nuno did came off from his tactics, team selection and substitutions. His gritty side followed their manager’s instructions to the letter to keep Liverpool at bay for 90 minutes and conjured up numerous counterattacks, with Hudson-Odoi eventually finishing one to earn the points after coming off the bench to give Forest their first win at Anfield since 1969.
Nuno’s plan was to pack the middle of the pitch, selecting five central midfielders, in an attempt to nullify Liverpool in the areas they have controlled in the opening three wins. Ryan Yates was appointed the irritator-in-chief as he irked the majority inside Anfield with his aggressive play, causing numerous stoppages as Andy Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister needed treatment for war wounds.
A goal would have provided a much-needed balm but Luis Díaz hit the base of the post, Diogo Jota sent a good chance straight at Matz Sels and Virgil van Dijk headed a corner wide. Liverpool were creating opportunities but they were unable to be clinical in the critical moments before the break, although Trent Alexander-Arnold caused Sels concern when he was forced to tip a corner over the bar.
With the central areas congested, Liverpool were forced to play with greater width and it almost resulted in the opener when Alexander-Arnold popped up on the left wing. From there he whipped in a dangerous cross for Mac Allister to flick towards goal but Sels read the situation and dived to his left to palm clear.
Liverpool were working hard for an opener and they were almost gifted it by Sels who tried to take a looping ball under the crossbar, only to drop it through his own legs. The Belgian breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it bounce on the line, as the fans waited to see if Michael Oliver’s watch would vibrate, before taking hold at the second time of asking.
Frustration was growing around Anfield that they had failed to break Forest down, each misplaced pass was greeted with a groan. They were almost made to pay when Forest countered and the ball reached Chris Wood who went through one-on-one but Alisson was equal to his shot.
Forest brought on two wingers to provide width, while Slot made a triple substitution to freshen up his wasteful side. The result was a more open game as Liverpool found more space to play in and Forest looked more threatening on the counterattack with the pace of Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga. The latter received the final pass of a breakaway but squandered the chance by rifling the ball over from 15 yards, much to Nuno’s chagrin on the touchline.
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The Forest manager’s demeanour soon changed when his team moved the ball quickly up the pitch, as Elanga found Hudson-Odoi on the left. The former Chelsea winger cut inside with Conor Bradley failing to block this obvious path, before curling beyond Alisson into the far corner. The away end was euphoric as Liverpool conceded for the first time this season.
Liverpool huffed and puffed but were wasteful in their attempts to blow down the Forest house made of bricks.
Source: theguardian.com
