Liverpool‘s winning run under Arne Slot was ended at Anfield after a stunning strike from Callum Hudsun-Odoi gave Nottingham Forest a shock 1-0 victory.
On 72 minutes, the second-half substitute cut inside and curled a shot past Alisson, and despite late pressure, the visitors held on.
After a bright start, the Reds were frustrated for large parts, with Luis Diaz hitting the post in the first half and away keeper Matz Sels nearly fumbling a loose ball into his own net.
Arne Slot made a triple substitution after the break, bringing on Darwin Nunez, Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo, but the hosts failed to break the deadlock against their organised visitors – before Hudson Odoi stunned the home fans into silence.
For all the talk of Liverpool’s form, it largely went unnoticed that Forest too arrived on Merseyside unbeaten in the league. And during the first 45 minutes in particular, it was clear to see why.
Nuno Espirito Santo is no stranger to a pragmatic approach, and was happy to set his team up today to frustrate the Reds. Starting with a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Morgan Gibbs-White playing off Chris Wood, Forest were compact, resolute, and prepared to go direct.
By half-time, they trailed 6-0 in shots on goal and 18-0 in terms of touches in the opposition area. Those stats got worse thereafter but the only one that counted, the overall scoreline, signified a win Nuno’s team worked for and merited. Another relegation battle? On this showing, no chance.
Four Premier League games under Slot, and four omissions from the starting XI for Darwin Nunez. Last March, it was the Uruguayan’s later header against the same side that many tipped to be a pivotal moment in the title race. What a difference six months makes.
He was eventually introduced on the hour mark for Diogo Jota, but made little in the way of impact. And the reluctance of Liverpool to go direct further negated his desire to contribute.
Early indications show that Slot is not prepared to show the patience of his predecessor when it comes to Nunez, whose work rate and threat is too often countered by erratic finishing. Should the time on the sidelines continue, expect the forward to be up for sale next summer.
