Liverpool fans have been left dredging the gutter for any sign of positives to take from Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
The Premier League champions made a woeful return after the international break on Saturday as they were beaten comfortably by Forest, who started the day in the relegation zone.
Here, This Is Anfield’s Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) and The Redmen TV’s Dan Clubbe (@dan_clubbe) bemoan yet another dismal Liverpool defeat and assess Slot’s future.
The bad
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams (R) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
DAN: If the Man City defeat alone wasn’t enough after the high of Real Madrid, then this was a brutal reality check.
Performances like this highlight exactly where the system has been breaking down in every department, whether it’s defensive shape, midfield balance or chance creation.
A result that bad should almost guarantee some of the lesser-used players getting chances and underperformers being benched.
I am scrambling for any positives, to be honest. It can’t get any worse, maybe?
Who knows anymore…
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Nottingham Forest's Murillo celebrates with team-mates after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
HENRY: Like Dan, I can’t really find a single positive, which is damning.
Yes, we started pretty well, but the reaction to going 1-0 down was feeble, at best.
Liverpool are all over the place physically, mentally and tactically, and watching them feels like an almighty chore.
When you’re staring into space in the second half and forgetting the Reds are even playing a game, it tells a story!
The worse
DAN: Defensive frailties exposed for all to see, once again underdone from set pieces and we were fortunate the scoreline wasn’t worse.
Structural issues, poor pressing coordination, vulnerability to counters – the blueprint remains clear for the opposition.
Slot has to come under serious scrutiny, and even if it’s unwarranted, you will hear, “has he lost the dressing room?”, “Is the system figured out?”, etc.
But what can’t be up for debate is that someone who once seemed to have the Midas touch is currently making mistakes, from team selection to in-game management.
Oh, and Ibou was all over the place.
The final ‘bad’ I’ll raise is the Anfield factor.
Such a humbling defeat weakens the aura of invincibility Liverpool try to maintain at home, and will fill those coming to Anfield with massive belief that we are there to be got at.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot applauds the supporters after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
HENRY: I sometimes feel like I single out Konate – people have given me stick for it! – but I can’t bear watching him at the moment.
He looks awkward on the ball, is making rash decisions and it’s impacting those around him, including even Virg, who looks human because of it.
On current form, a new contract should be the least of our focus.
Ibou wasn’t alone, though, with the midfield painfully easy to play against, and Isak so quiet that I literally forgot he was playing at one point.
I once played with someone who had to play an entire game just after being stung by a wasp, and while he was terrible, he may have had a bigger impact than Isak!
Liverpool’s mentality is frankly pathetic this season, with teams outrunning them and looking hungrier in games.
There is the big Jota factor, which must always come into play because these young lads’ close mate died, but so much isn’t right this season.
This is 2022/23, but worse – it may even be reaching Hodgson levels!
How long does Arne Slot have to turn it around?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
DAN: One terrible result doesn’t define Slot, but this is now deeper than that without doubt.
But sacking a manager may only bring further chaos after a turbulent summer and a far from ideal start to the season.
He has shown enough and certainly has enough credit in the bank to get through this, maybe even to have the whole season, especially given the extenuating circumstances.
Liverpool shouldn’t ever become a sack-happy club, but there is no doubt that the pressure is well and truly on.
He needs to fix the defence, restore intensity, and make smarter selections. This is a warning sign. He must respond immediately – no excuses.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 9, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot before the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
HENRY: I like to be as least knee-jerk as anyone when it comes to sacking managers, but my patience is wearing thin.
Slot is a shadow of the imperious figure that replaced Klopp with such ease, with his tactics constantly leaving you perplexed.
Eight defeats in 11 games is unacceptable for relegation teams, let alone the champions, and this cannot continue for much longer.
Would I sack Slot right now? No. Would I sack him if we beat PSV but then lose to West Ham? Yes.
I think that sums up how on the edge he is!