Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest: Reds suffer first defeat under Arne Slot as Callum Hudson-Odoi nets to leave Anfield shell-shocked

Arne Slot’s buzzword since taking charge of Liverpool has been patience. But around the 70th minute of the match, all patience was slowly running out and only fear and frustration prevailed.

During training sessions, the new Reds head coach has repeatedly called on his team to adopt a slow style to ‘kill’ teams with passing, but the performance has been rushed, panicky and lacking in ideas.

Nottingham Forest were on a four-game unbeaten run to start the season when Nuno Espirito Santo’s youngsters executed a clever game plan to perfection to secure a historic 1-0 victory. Substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi was the match-winner with a curling effort in the 72nd minute.

Nuno’s team executed his defensive instructions to perfection – Murillo and new signing Nikola Milenkovic were imperious – while limiting Liverpool’s space and shooting opportunities. Mohamed Salah looked dejected as he fired two shots in a minute into the Kop.

At this point Forest smelled blood. Nuno thought as much as he threw to wide men Anthony Elanga and Hudson-Odoi, who combined for a devastating breakaway goal that would have been replayed in Nottingham’s nightlife long into the night.

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s low curling shot crept past Alisson Becker’s left post

Arne Slot’s honeymoon as Liverpool head coach has come to an end at Anfield

Even after taking the lead, Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels was barely called into action as a wasteful Liverpool side continued to shoot from distance and were unable to break through the away team’s sturdy defence. Fans in the away section celebrated every kick as if it were a goal.

That’s right. This has been a long time coming – 55 years to be precise. It was February 1969 when Forest won the league at Anfield, in the era of Bill Shankly and ‘Rowdy’ Ron Yeats, who was remembered before kick-off after the Liverpool legend passed away the previous weekend.

Neither the boss nor the players were born when it happened, suggesting this is a victory that will be talked about for years to come. It was certainly the best since Nuno took over from club icon Steve Cooper at Forest, and his team are in the Champions League places – for now.

This wasn’t the ‘finish them off with passes’ that Slot ordered, but rather Forest destroying Liverpool’s game plan at the source and perhaps even laying out the plan to beat the Dutchman who, let’s not forget, had won every game and hadn’t conceded a goal until this one.

Nuno filled the midfield with five players who are, by trade, central midfielders. That meant that players like Dominik Szoboszlai could not have his usual influence on the game. Forest set up to frustrate for an hour before adding pace and width in the second half.

Liverpool’s two best chances came from Forest players lapses in concentration. First, Ryan Yates attempted to shield a ball for a goal kick but was robbed on the byline by the well-performing Luis Diaz, who charged towards goal and hit the near post.

Goalkeeper Sels then provided a heartbreaking moment for the away fans when he saw a cross – which should have been easily eaten – go awry and lost the ball. The Belgian only just prevented a goal and fortunately the referee’s watch did not give a signal.

The Reds must regain their resilience to produce the late magic reminiscent of the previous era

The fact that Liverpool conceded their first goal of the campaign on Saturday proved crucial

Diogo Jota had a sight of goal after a fine pass from outside the foot of Alexis Mac Allister and then the Argentine had a chance of his own when he headed Sels into a reflex save. They created chances but lacked the clinical sharpness that has been on display in recent weeks.

The atmosphere at Anfield was muted, thanks in part to Forest’s plan to prevent Liverpool from playing. The away side taunted the home fans with ‘shhh’ noises and the two-time European Cup winners’ supporters chanted ‘1-0 to the famous team’ as they took the lead.

It would be wrong to say that the goal was coming, but Liverpool had only themselves to blame. They had been warned minutes before. A breathtaking counter-attack starring New England stars Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood ended with a sloppy finish from Elanga.

But the next time they ventured forward, Forest made Liverpool pay for their wastefulness at the other end. Elanga drove the team forward on the right and played a defence-splitting switch to Hudson-Odoi. He slotted past Conor Bradley with ease and curled a shot into the far corner.

“We lost the ball so many times in simple situations,” Slot said. “That’s the main story of the game, the possession wasn’t good enough. That’s a big setback, when you lose a home game it’s always a setback.”

Even after going behind, Liverpool barely threatened. A penny for the thoughts of new striker Federico Chiesa, who was in the stands rather than on the bench. Could he have made an impact with a 10-minute cameo?

In reality, it looked like no one in a red shirt would come up with a golden moment. Defender Murillo made a warrior-like header and Ola Aina made a last-ditch save as every Forest defender put in solid shifts.

By the end, Forest fans were cheering every clearance as if it were a goal – and they had every right to celebrate. ‘I’m very happy,’ Nuno said. ‘A lot of our fans in the stadium today weren’t even born yet, so that shows how difficult it is.

“I am very happy and proud of the work of the players, they work very hard. In general we knew how difficult the game would be. It is about taking your chances.” And they did – and they recorded one of the best victories in their recent history.

As for Liverpool, this is no time to panic — this performance wasn’t bad. But it was a far cry from the standards they set in their opening games. The Reds head to San Siro and AC Milan on Tuesday knowing that Slot’s honeymoon period is well and truly over.