LIVERPOOL’S perfect start to the season under new manager Arne Slot is over. Indeed, their performance in Saturday’s shock home loss to Nottingham Forest was a long way from perfect as Nuno Espirito Santo’s team executed a game plan designed to exploit the weaknesses in the Anfield outfit.

Everything came together for Forest. They defended resolutely and stopped Liverpool from playing through the centre of the pitch by biting into tackles and getting close to the hosts. Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah had occasional looks at goals, but the two wingers were largely kept quiet by Ola Aina and Alex Moreno.

As the match progressed, the visitors started to pose more of a threat on the counter and that led to Nottingham Forest’s winner curled into the bottom corner of Alisson Becker’s net by Callum Hudson-Odoi. It was the sort of performance Nuno’s Wolves used to produce regularly. The Portuguese coach is reshaping Forest in his own image.

The surprise defeat, however, left Liverpool with a lot to contemplate. Their Expected Goals (xG) of 0.94 was the lowest for a home league game in over a year. Forest executed their game plan well, but the Reds didn’t do enough to break them open. It was a toothless performance that highlighted some of Liverpool’s weaknesses.

Most concerning for Slot was that Liverpool simply didn’t demonstrate enough creativity through the middle of the pitch. The Reds had 69% of possession, but only created one Big Chance. While the deep-lying pair of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister had been praised for their start to the season, they lacked incisiveness against Forest.

Of course, this certainly wasn’t the first time Liverpool have faced an opponent sitting deep in a low defensive block at Anfield. Under Klopp, though, they would find space down the wings and open up defences that way. On Saturday against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool were too one-dimensional in their attacking game plan.

“If you lose a home game it’s always a setback, especially if you face a team, we never know, maybe they will go all the way to fight for Champions League places, but normally this team is not ending up in the top 10,” said Slot after his first defeat as Liverpool manager. “So if you lose a game against them it’s a big disappointment.”

This season can still be a success for Slot and Liverpool. They have shown enough over the early part of the season to suggest the Dutchman was a smart choice to build on the foundations left by Jurgen Klopp. Tuesday’s Champions League opener against AC Milan will present Liverpool with an opportunity to move on quickly.

To truly challenge for the biggest prizes in English and European football, though, Slot must address some issues in the Liverpool team. The Anfield club’s failure to land a number six in the summer transfer window has left the Dutchman with one hand tied behind his back this season. It might not be until Liverpool find such a player that Slot can truly impose his own style.

There also questions to be answered over the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Virgil van Dijk, all of whom will be out of contract next summer. The exit of any of these three key figures would give Liverpool an almighty task to replace them such is their level of importance to the Anfield outfit.

Liverpool supporters were prepared for a transitional season after the summer departure of Klopp and the defeat to Nottingham Forest made that a reality. Slot’s team is a work-in-progress and there will be more results and performances like the one produced on Saturday. It’s about how Liverpool continue to develop as they enter a new era.

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