The ‘honeymoon period is over’ at Liverpool for Arne Slot after Saturday’s shock home defeat to Nottingham Forest, according to Chris Sutton.
In the 72nd minute, Callum Hudson-Odoi scored, becoming the first player to net a goal against Slot’s Liverpool, while Forest is the first team to take points from them this season.
This win marks Forest’s first victory at Anfield since 1969 and Virgil van Dijk’s third home Premier League defeat as a Liverpool player.
Surprisingly, Liverpool has now lost two home league matches in 2024, exceeding their total losses in both 2022 and 2023 combined (1).
This result served as a wake-up call for Slot with Liverpool fans.
“Arne Slot’s honeymoon period is over; there’s a lot of work ahead,” former Blackburn Rovers striker Sutton told BBC Sport.
Despite this, Sutton praised Forest for their exceptional performance, noting that Nuno Espírito Santo’s team is now on eight points and remains unbeaten after four games.
He added, “Forest was outstanding; they defended magnificently and maintained their attacking threat. Nuno Espírito Santo made effective substitutions.”
“Forest’s three points and their performance were impressive.”
Forest managed only five shots at Anfield on Saturday, but their impressive defensive effort secured the result. The Midlands team made 15 tackles, 11 interceptions, three blocks, and 29 clearances, while Liverpool had nine tackles, seven interceptions, no blocks, and 14 clearances.
Alan Shearer, Sutton’s former Blackburn strike partner, also praised Forest’s performance.
“Nottingham Forest were exceptional,” said Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer.
“Their defensive work as a team was superb and not a fluke. They thwarted Liverpool every time they entered the box.
“Then they capitalized on the counter-attack, with Callum Hudson-Odoi scoring a brilliant goal. It’s been an impressive start to the season for them.”
