Alan Shearer's two-word verdict offers Arne Slot Liverpool reality check

Alan Shearer has highlighted how Nottingham Forest frustrated Liverpool at Anfield to end the honeymoon period for head coach Arne Slot after just four Premier League matches. The visitors restricted the Reds to just 14 shots during the game, their second-lowest of the campaign.

Forest ceded possession to Slot's side more than Brentford or Ipswich Town did before the international break and kept the front three quiet throughout. Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah struggled out wide, with the former replaced midway through the second half.

The lack of space stymied the form they have shown thus far this season, combining to score all of Liverpool's last four goals. Shearer credited Forest for preventing them from playing at their best.

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“Nottingham Forest were outstanding," Shearer said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "The way they defended as a team was magnificent, and this was no fluke.

“They stopped Liverpool every time they got into the box. Then they went and hit them on the break; what a finish from Callum Hudson-Odoi. What a start to the season they've had.”

Shearer then expanded on those comments during Match of the Day. “They were absolutely magnificent from start to finish,” he stated.

“They had a game plan, and it worked to perfection – you have to be almost perfect when you go to Anfield, with the form that they have been in, Liverpool, and Forest were. There was just no way through.

"No spaces. No gaps in the middle. They were really tight. They were really compact, and that was a constant all afternoon. Liverpool got so frustrated with how well Forest were playing.

“I mentioned the fullbacks. (Alex) Moreno, one v one against Salah, no way through there. Come to the other side. Diaz against (Ola) Aina, no way through again.

“(Nikola) Milenkovic and Murillo, who we will mention, the amount of bodies that are in the middle and they are fighting over each other to close them down, get in the way of it, block it.

"Forest’s goal; Liverpool were on the attack, Milenkovic was too strong for (Darwin) Nunez when he came on, and he didn’t add anything to the game. He wins the ball, and then the way they break, (Anthony) Elanga and Hudson-Odoi, who came on as subs; it’s a brilliant goal. One end to the other.”