Slot returning to Anfield with level to show regardless of good begin
Slot returning to Anfield with level to show regardless of good begin


Arne Slot insists Liverpool nonetheless have loads to show regardless of successful all three of their opening Premier League fixtures forward of welcoming Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Saturday.

The Dutchman is seeking to change into the primary supervisor to maintain 4 clear sheets of their first 4 league video games on the helm, with the Reds the one aspect within the division but to concede this time period.

Liverpool’s defensive enhancements have been overshadowed by their fluidity in assault, which was evident of their spectacular 3-0 win over Manchester United earlier than the worldwide break.

However Slot defined that not a lot wanted tweaking to resolve the Reds’ defensive rearguard that conceded 41 targets final yr, acknowledging his aspect’s good begin means nothing simply but.

“I usually don’t use the phrase ‘proud’ however what I feel we did very properly in all three video games is, like I simply talked about, the work price with out the ball,” Slot mentioned.

“So, we attempt to press the opponent as excessive as we will but when they play via or over our press, I see all people working actually exhausting to verify we don’t want Alisson.

“I don’t assume that a lot distinction. You might be used to, for those who adopted Liverpool for a very long time, them urgent actually excessive. That’s what we attempt to do now as properly.

“Like I mentioned, three video games performed, the primary two with Ipswich and Brentford had been tough opponents. A superb begin, let that be clear, however nonetheless loads to show.”

Forest, in the meantime, will likely be seeking to put an finish to Liverpool’s good begin to the season to keep up their very own unbeaten run within the prime flight this time period.

Nuno Espirito Santo needed to accept some extent towards former membership Wolves final day out however will be capable of unleash his late additions within the switch window at Anfield.

James Ward-Prowse and Morato joined on the ultimate day of the window, with the Forest head coach hopeful the pair can present the rhythm that was lacking final day out.

“First half the sport was not within the rhythm – an excessive amount of disruption,” Nuno mentioned.

“The rhythm of the sport for each groups was lose possession, a disrupted sport. One optimistic is we scored and the adverse is we conceded so shortly.

“It modified within the second half, we had been extra dominant and we put Wolves towards the ropes.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Diogo Jota

Jota has loved his earlier conferences with Forest, scoring six targets in 5 appearances towards them in all competitions.

He has netted in all three of his video games towards the Tough Timber for Liverpool (4 targets), which is his longest scoring run towards a single opponent in his English membership profession.

Nottingham Forest – Chris Wooden

Wooden has scored 4 of Nottingham Forest’s final 5 Premier League targets, together with two of their three to date this season.

Nevertheless, Wooden has by no means scored in 11 league appearances towards Liverpool, solely going through Chelsea (12) extra occasions within the Premier League with out scoring.

MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN

Either side come into the competition with an unbeaten Premier League file this marketing campaign, however it’s Liverpool who’re anticipated to return out on prime, successful 75.9% of Opta’s data-led simulations.

The Reds are unbeaten of their final 25 house league video games towards Nottingham Forest (W20 D5), successful the final six in a row. Their final such defeat was in February 1969 underneath Invoice Shankly (0-2).

Liverpool have gained all three of their Premier League video games underneath new supervisor Slot with out conceding a single aim. No supervisor within the competitors’s historical past has stored a clear sheet in every of their first 4 matches in cost, whereas solely six have gained every of their first 4, most just lately Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea in 2018.

The hosts have solely misplaced as soon as of their final 24 Premier League matches which have instantly adopted a global break (W18 D5), happening 4-1 at Manchester Metropolis in April 2023. When taking part in at Anfield within the league straight after a global break, Liverpool haven’t misplaced since September 2014 towards Aston Villa (0-1).

However Forest are unbeaten in 4 Premier League matches (W2 D2), their longest such run underneath Nuno, whereas not since February 2023 have they loved an extended unbeaten streak within the division (5 video games).

Nevertheless, the Tough Timber have misplaced their final three Premier League video games towards Liverpool, their longest run of league defeats towards the Reds since a run of 5 between 1983 and 1985.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Liverpool – 75.9%

Draw – 14.3%

Nottingham Forest – 9.8%





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