Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest: Match Review
The Fenway Sports Group chairman was at Anfield as Liverpool suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
When the teams were announced 75 minutes before kick-off, everyone was drawn to two things.
Liverpool’s issues at right-back were already known ahead of the encounter. Arne Slot admitted at his pre-Nottingham Forest press conference that Conor Bradley had suffered an injury during international duty with Northern Ireland and had joined Jeremie Frimpong in the treatment room.
Against the backdrop of a resounding 3-0 loss against Manchester City - and five Premier League losses in six games - this was hardly ideal. There was much debate as to who should operate as a makeshift full-back against Forest.
In truth, few supporters would have selected Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungary international has been Liverpool’s best player in a meek Premier League title defence. His energy and quality in midfield should have stayed, plenty argued.
With Curtis Jones coming into the line-up, there was a chance that Szoboszlai would remain in the engine room. Jones has operated as a right-back previously. It was an answer we would not know until the Anfield clash started.
What was able to be identified was Alexander Isak had been selected to spearhead the attack. Slot had admitted to reporters the previous morning that he had to try to fast-track the £125 million British record signing up to full fitness. Having arrived short of sharpness following a disrupted pre-season and then suffering a groin injury, Isak is well below where he’d be expected in a regular campaign.
There to run the rule over the game was Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool chairman Tom Werner jetting in from America to be present. On his previous visit, he had been roistering a second Premier League triumph of the Boston-based group’s tenure. Six months ago, Slot’s name was serenaded by Kopites and etched his name into club folklore.
However, after a resounding 3-0 defeat by a Forest side that started the day in 19th, Slot will surely know that his once cast-iron position is now somewhat precarious. It was a performance that epitomised Liverpool’s campaign so far. They were decent in parts but lacked a killer instinct before crumpling under pressure - and did not have the mettle to respond.
In fairness, Slot cannot be held responsible for rudimentary, individual errors. Before Murillo broke the deadlock for Forest, Ibrahima Konate had needlessly given away a corner. And prior to Nicolo Savona doubling the lead inside 60 seconds of the second half - surely after Slot told his troops to be on their toes from kick-off - Alexis Mac Allister jumped into a tackle inside his own box he did not make.
But it was hard to fathom why Szoboszlai was taken out of the engine room. The absence of his energy and pressing was stark. As was his quality in the final third. It made even less sense with Florian Wirtz injured.
And surely it would have been more prudent to start Isak against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night. The Sweden international had just 15 touches throughout the Forest game and one tame shot was well off target. Isak was easily shackled by Forest’s physical centre-back duo Murillo and Nikola Milenković, losing all seven duels.
It was Slot who seemingly pushed to sign Isak in the summer. The Dutchman has stated that Liverpool and Man City created the most chances from open play last season and bringing in a No.9 would finish them off. Granted, Isak has not been fit but when he has played, he’s largely been starved of service. Given the investment in the ex-Real Sociedad centre-forward, Werner and the Liverpool top brass might already be pondering whether is was the right call.
To be frank, Wednesday’s clash against PSV will do little for Slot. A victory over the Eredivisie side is expected, while Liverpool have been far better in the Champions League than domestically. All eyes are on next weekend’s trip to West Ham United. Failure to be triumphant over a side that are 17th and more questions of Slot and whether he has the acumen to turn things around will be asked.
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