Liverpool’s unbeaten run crushed by Nottingham Forest in historic Anfield upset

It was a defeat that Liverpool had been threatening to suffer the whole season, and it came in the worst possible circumstances: losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at Anfield to snap a run of excellent performances since manager Arne Slot took over the reins. More than just a slip-up, the result unearthed chinks in the armor that may prove critical as to how the rest of this season plays out. In which case, what went wrong? And more importantly, how is this going to affect the future of Liverpool?

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A second-half goal by Callum Hudson-Odoi gave Nottingham Forest their first win at Anfield in 55 years, while also ending the impressive run of Slot with three victories without conceding a goal. This was an opportunity for the coach to go down in Premier League history, but Liverpool didn't manage to keep the pace.

Anfield blow: Slot's reaction

Immediately after the final whistle, Arne Slot didn't mince words. For him, it was a "major setback." Quite rightly so, with the fact that to fall against a team that isn't even in the top half of the table under normal circumstances is a hard ask. Slot took responsibility but was quick in pointing out that Forest's solid structure made things difficult for Liverpool.

The only thing we could really control was possession. We had a lot of the ball, but created only three or four clear chances. That's far too little for dominating the opponent's half so much," the coach stressed.

It gets across the point: Liverpool had the ball, but it never created and crafted. The possession, once the lethal weapon of this team, now was an empty statistic. Losing the ball in simple situations, as Slot emphasized, was the fatal error. In games like this, against a well-organized defensively team, any mistake is able to be punished, just as Forest showed.

International break and its impact (or lack thereof)

One of the big questions following the game was if the international break had affected Liverpool's performance, in that beforehand, the team seemed unstoppable while victories came in against Ipswich Town, Brentford, and Manchester United. However, ButSlot firmly quelled this theory.

I don't think the break had anything to do with it. The players came back strong and today I saw a team that fought until the very end. It wasn't a question of energy," Slot explained.

 It says it all-something deeper: it was neither physical nor a matter of commitment. Liverpool was simply inefficient with the ball at its feet.

 Table impact and European challenge

With the defeat, Liverpool lost an important chance to get in front in the race to catch Premier League leaders Manchester City. The Reds fell three points behind Manchester City, 2-1 winners at Brentford. This adds extra pressure on Slot's team, which now needs to bounce back quickly. And as if the merciless Premier League race wasn't enough, Liverpool also have the test of the UEFA Champions League, with Tuesday's tough opponent in AC Milan.

Yet Slot stays firm. He said, "The attitude of the team has to be the same when they win or lose a match. They simply cannot let this defeat enter into their minds.".

If I changed my preparation after a loss, it would mean I only do my best work when we lose. So I always try to keep the same approach, and that's what I expect from the players too," said the coach.

Possession and a lack of creativity: a chronic problem?

What really cannot be avoided, however, is the possession factor emphasized on by Slot. The Dutch coach has always made sure control of the ball is one of the pillars of his style. But against Forest, it became clear that having the ball is not enough. Liverpool couldn't break the defensive lines of the team and change possession into real chances.

Without purpose, this kind of "side-to-side passing" may get Liverpool into trouble in matches against teams who know how to sit back and use the necessary counterattacks. Nottingham Forest delivered a masterclass in waiting for the right moment to strike, and Slot needs to find a solution to prevent this from happening again.