It was a woeful return from the worldwide break for Liverpool as their unbeaten begin to the season got here to a crashing halt in a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest

Premier League (4), Anfield
September 13, 2024

Targets

Hudson-Odoi 72′

Though a global break paused the Reds’ early momentum, for Arne Slot “it was not that troublesome to have the identical lineup” because the one which comfortably put Man United to the sword.

The unchanged XI had been aiming to equal a membership file of 4 league shutouts to start out a season – final achieved in 2005/06 – however that led to irritating distress.

Luis Diaz had the primary sight of aim for Liverpool after 16 minutes, agonisingly hanging the within of the upright after refusing to surrender when the ball was there to be gained on the byline.

After practically two weeks aside, although, not everybody was on the identical wavelength and ahead momentum was stunted to make for a uninteresting opening 45 – not assisted by 12 fouls mixed.

Diogo Jota and Alexis Mac Allister had sighters, however solely mere inches denied Slot’s males a fortunate breakthrough when the Forest ‘keeper nearly bundled Diaz’s header over his personal line.

Loads of possession for Liverpool (66 %), however nothing to indicate for it on the scoreboard on the interval.

Half time: Liverpool 0-0 Forest

• First defeat underneath Slot
• Sloppy on return from the worldwide break
• Ended match with Trent in midfield and a again three
• Federico Chiesa ignored of matchday squad
• 5 photographs on track for LFC, 0 objectives

There was no quick enchancment in the beginning of the second half, with irritating choices in possession doing little to have interaction a subdued Anfield crowd – one determined for an explosive second.

Dominik Szoboszlai‘s inaccuracy gave Forest useless impetus – them and their followers – whereas the forwards continued to run into useless ends within the ultimate third.

After an hour, Slot had seen sufficient and made an fascinating triple change. Alexis Mac Allister, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz all made approach for Conor Bradley, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.

Trent Alexander-Arnold shifted into midfield alongside Gravenberch because the Reds opened themselves up, however the opener nonetheless felt past attain because the clock ticked nearer to 90 minutes.

Not for Forest, although. After Nunez misplaced the ball on the sting of the world, the away facet wasted little time transferring up the pitch and Alisson might do little towards Hudson-Odoi‘s strike.

Slot’s choice to omit Federico Chiesa from the squad grew to become all of the extra puzzling as his ultimate modifications included Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas – making a again three made up of two full-backs.

Liverpool have been missing cohesion and composure, their heads gone because the hallmarks of Slot’s first video games felt ripped up as they grew to become second greatest throughout the pitch. Worldwide breaks can do one.

TIA Man of the Match: In all honesty, Nuno Espirito Santo.

Referee: Michael Oliver

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate (Jones 75′), Van Dijk, Robertson (Tsimikas 75′); Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Bradley 60′); Salah, Diaz (Gakpo 60′), Jota (Nunez 60′)

Subs not used: Kelleher, Gomez, Quansah, Endo

Nottingham Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno (Williams 80′); Ward-Prowse, Yates; Dominguez (Hudson-Odoi 54′), Gibbs-White (Morato 81′), Anderson (Elanga 61′); Wooden (Jota 81′)

Subs not used: Miguel, Omobamidele, Toffolo, Awoniyi

Subsequent match: AC Milan (A) – Champions League 1 – Tuesday, September 17, 8pm (BST)