Many had wondered how Arne Slot would settle into life at Anfield and Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement, and it is fair to say that the Dutchman has fared very well so far.
His opening three games in the Premier League saw three straight wins with a good goal difference, but in Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest, he fell to his first defeat on home soil as his side conceded their first goal of the campaign.
Their gaffer was naturally frustrated with how the game played out as they had far greater possession, and over double the number of chances at goal, but they were just too wasteful and did not test the opposition goalkeeper anywhere near enough, Slot however, remained calm and described it as a simple ‘setback’ and the kind of thing that happens to all sides during a season.
Despite the 45 year old’s calmer approach to the defeat, it has naturally received the expected blow back in the media with claims that his ‘honeymoon period’ is now over and other such trite headlines, but the defeat was always going to gain media attraction as Slot’s first loss, but particularly as it was Forest’s first victory against the club at Anfield since February 1969.
Slot was also fair in his response to the game, as he knew it was not a smash and grab, Forest played well and Callum Hudson-Odoi’s strike was deserved for their efforts, but with better composure and far fewer errors, Liverpool would undoubtedly feel that they could have come out of the game with a 2-1 or 3-1 victory that reflected the overall performances of both sides on the day.
Forest themselves remain unbeaten this season following the result, and the three points lift them into fifth place in the table at this very early stage of the campaign, but Liverpool fans will simply have to take the flak that comes their way right now, and pundit Chris Sutton certainly did not hold back.
The former Blackburn Rovers striker confidently claimed that the ‘honeymoon period is over’ and that ultimately the international break had counted against their early momentum. He also claimed that the biggest worry for their new manager was that he was simply out thought by Nuno Espirito Santo and his Forest team.
Although some members of the Anfield faithful chose to leave early given their own frustrations, with the chances the side had, few would believe they were out thought as Sutton claims – they just were not composed enough in the moment to take their chances.
Slot was wise enough to know their performance just was not up to scratch, and he was not looking for excuses – he was looking for improvement.
This result will quickly be forgotten with victory over AC Milan in the Champions League in midweek.