NOTTINGHAM, England — Arne Slot is no stranger to sideline serenades. Beloved at former club Feyenoord Rotterdam, the Liverpool head coach quickly grew accustomed to hearing supporters at Anfield – and outside the country – singing his praises from the terraces as his team so masterfully swept away almost everything before them. .
But on Tuesday night it was Nottingham Forest supporters who made Slot the subject of their attention as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side battled to halt their visitors’ march to the Premier League title, holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the City Ground.
“Arne Slot, here we go again!” » cheered Forest fans after Chris Wood scored his 13th league goal of the season to give the hosts the lead inside eight minutes. Indeed, for more than an hour of this contest it looked like Forest were about to inflict Liverpool’s second league defeat of the season, having also dispatched Slot’s men at Anfield in September.
That Liverpool fought back to secure a valuable point, secured via a header in the 66th minute of Diogo Jotatestament to both the character and quality of the Reds. However, Tuesday night’s epic at the City Ground offered further proof – much needed – that there are still plenty of twists and turns to come in this title race.
If, on the eve of this Premier League season, this match had been touted as a potential title decider, few people would have been inclined to pay attention. After all, Forest finished last season in 17th place, just six points outside the relegation zone.
It was for this reason that September’s surprise triumph at Anfield caused so much fanfare, with Slot himself admitting that Liverpool’s winners that day “don’t normally finish in the top 10”. But that victory has since proven to be more than a flash in the pan, as Forest have continued to impress, defying the odds to rise to second place in the table.
A victory against the league leaders on Tuesday would have moved Forest to within three points of top spot, and perhaps that prospect weighed heavily on the minds of the Slot players as they toiled on the banks of the Trent River.
Certainly, the new year has not been particularly happy for Liverpool. After bidding farewell to 2024 with a resounding victory against strugglers West Ham United, the first two weeks of 2025 have seen cracks begin to appear in the Reds’ previously impenetrable armor.
Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over League Two side Accrington Stanley at the weekend was their first victory since the turn of the year, following a thrilling draw with Manchester United in the league and a narrow defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of the Carabao Cup. semi-finals.
Against Forest, all early signs seemed to indicate that Liverpool were descending into a mini-crisis, as a combination of poor decision-making and erratic finishing meant that Slot’s side headed into the interval without having registered a single shot on target .
Liverpool improved slightly after the break, but it was only when Slot turned to his bench that his side were able to make the breakthrough. Jota’s introduction and Kostas Tsimikasinstead of Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson, proved to be a masterstroke as, just 22 seconds after the substitution, Liverpool were level; Jota having returned home from Tsimikas corner.
After that, Slot’s side seemed to rediscover some of the arrogance that has defined much of their season so far, with only interventions from an inspired Matz Sels in the Forest goal and some admirable defending of last resort keeping Liverpool at bay.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything better today,” Slot admitted in his post-match press conference. “I think most people would speak very positively about the second half, but if you play on this pitch against this team who are in such good form, who hardly concede any chances in every game and who have so much counter-attack threats. We only conceded one counter-attack today in 98 minutes of football.
Although Forest supporters might disagree with Slot’s assertion, Liverpool’s second-half performance at least ensures they maintain their six-point lead at the top of the table. The championship leaders no longer appear infallible, but one look at the rest of Tuesday night’s results is compelling evidence that they don’t need to be.
Manchester City and Chelsea have dropped points while Arsenal, who face bitter rivals Tottenham on Wednesday, have also looked far from their best in recent weeks, with the striker Gabriel Jesus having now joined Talisman stricken Bukayo Saka on the sidelines.
Forest, of course, remain a threat, having proven on Tuesday that they are capable of taking on the best.
“I don’t think they’re here by luck,” Slot admitted. “For every team it is difficult to face them. They have already had difficult games away, against United, City, Arsenal, us. It shows that they are a team that can compete at the top of the table. “
But while Forest and Co. will continue to press on, Liverpool must simply look to keep a cool head. It may not be the procession to the title that seemed in the making just a few weeks ago, but, for now at least, Slot’s men remain firmly in control.
