Liverpool experienced their first setback under Arne Slot as they delivered a lackluster performance against Nottingham Forest today.
For Slot, who immediately took his place in the dugout when the team struggled, this was uncharted territory as Liverpool’s manager.
On the pitch, Slot had little control over his players’ poor decision-making, which was evident throughout the game.
In an unexpected twist, Mohamed Salah became the source of frustration for the Anfield crowd due to his repeated missed opportunities.
Although Liverpool dominated possession for most of the match, they were caught off guard when Callum Hudson-Odoi scored a stunning goal to give Forest the lead.
Despite the rare criticism directed at Salah, who was signed for £34m and typically enjoys considerable patience from Liverpool fans, the crowd’s frustration was palpable.
Sky Sports journalist Laura Hunter highlighted the frustration among Liverpool fans at Anfield as Salah missed yet another scoring chance.
“Frustration mounted as Salah hesitated repeatedly on the edge of the box, waiting so long that his teammates’ runs became offside or ineffective, leading to a dinked cross that drifted out of play, eliciting groans from the Kop,” Hunter reported.
Is Slot already facing challenges? It’s very early in Arne Slot’s tenure at Liverpool, but it seemed that Nottingham Forest and Nuno Espírito Santo had begun to figure them out today.
While Liverpool had periods of dominance and could have scored more with better finishing, Forest held firm and eventually took the lead with some tactical substitutions and a decisive finish.
Liverpool and Slot will undoubtedly reflect on this match, and the Dutch manager will have much to consider in training this week.
