Arne Slot facing Liverpool problem and injury blow as Federico Chiesa question emerges
For the first time in his embryonic reign, Arne Slot was able to see how his Liverpool side coped with a setback. It did not make for encouraging viewing.
The tone was set in the opening minutes as passes went astray, probing runs weren’t noticed and balls floated harmlessly out of play. The Reds were out of rhythm.
That, though, shouldn’t have been an excuse in the second half as Anfield, and no doubt Nottingham Forest, expected if not a cavalry charge then certainly the pressure to be gradually cranked up as Liverpool attacked the Kop end.
READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings as Mohamed Salah and two more poor in shock Nottingham Forest loss
READ MORE: Arne Slot makes blunt Nottingham Forest point after shock Liverpool defeat
But it didn’t happen. And as the clock ticked on and Forest nosed ahead, the Reds looked increasingly unlikely to score. The five minutes of additional time merely extended the agony rather than offer hope of redemption.
Slot later admitted Forest offered a different problem to his team's three previous opponents this season by defending with a very low block and looking to hit the ball long.
It’s precisely the type of opposition Liverpool have struggled to break down in recent years, even if they often found a way through sheer willpower.
Slot hasn’t been in position long enough to find an answer with these players. He now knows it’s an issue that will need addressing.
Salah not the only concern as Elliott missed
Mohamed Salah skipped past his marker, cut inside into space and cocked the trigger of his left foot – and promptly struck a shot that ended up nearer the corner flag than the goal.
It was that kind of afternoon for the Egyptian who, after an impressive start to the campaign, had a rare shocker, finding even simple square passes too often beyond him.
Anfield grumbled with discontent. But the criticism should be shared throughout the front line for Liverpool’s blunt showing. In fairness, Luis Diaz showed up in the first half and hit the post, although he faded badly after the break.
But Diogo Jota spent too often coughing up possession when not lost amid the towering Forest defenders, and neither Cody Gakpo nor Darwin Nunez made any difference from the bench. If anything, the substitutions made Liverpool even less effective.
Nunez, of course, had scored a dramatic late winner at Forest last time out, but here looked horribly short of match sharpness.
This was perhaps a game in which Harvey Elliott, offering energy, thrust and creativity from midfield, would have made a difference in the final quarter.
But the Reds should still have had sufficient firepower to continue their winning start to the season. As Slot admitted, this just wasn’t good enough.
Chiesa question for Reds
A run of seven games in 22 days was always going to tell Slot more about the strength in depth of his Liverpool squad. And having outed himself as a reluctant rotator ahead of this game, already the Liverpool head coach may have to revise that opinion.
Making just one change during his first four games in charge, the start of the Champions League at AC Milan on Tuesday should prompt a greater reliance on what until now have been fringe players.
Certainly, there will be hope summer signing Federico Chiesa – again watching on from the stands – will be fit enough to make the bench for a swift return to Italy.
However, the greater intrigue will be over how Slot starts to mix and match his resources after showing his hand early on with what he believes at present is his strongest side.
This Forest loss has shown they can’t play together every week. Fitness as well as form must be taken into consideration, with minutes being managed. Balancing that while gaining results is the challenge now facing Slot.