Liverpool’s perfect start under manager Arne Slot came to an abrupt end as Nottingham Forest stunned Anfield with a 1-0 win on Saturday.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the only goal 18 minutes from time to secure Forest’s first away league win against Liverpool in 55 years.
Liverpool had won all three of their opening games under Slot without conceding, including a 3-0 win away at Manchester United two weeks ago.
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But the Reds were sloppy and sluggish after the international break and made to pay.
“We had a lot of ball possession but only managed to create three or four quite good chances, so that is by far not enough if you have so much ball possession,” said Slot. “We lost the ball so many times in simple situations.” Luis Diaz was unlucky not to spark the home side into life when he robbed Ryan Yates and smashed a shot off the inside of the post midway through the first half.
Diogo Jota volleyed straight at Matz Sels, who then denied Alexis Mac Allister with a header but Liverpool never managed to click through the gears against a well-organised Forest side, who are yet to lose in the Premier League this season.
The visitors did ride their luck when Sels fumbled a looping Diaz header and just scooped up the loose ball before it crossed the line.
Slot tried to liven up Liverpool with a triple change on the hour mark as Diaz, Jota and Mac Allister were sacrificed after their exertions on international duty.
– Early ‘setback’ –
Trent Alexander-Arnold was pushed forward into midfield as a result, but the move backfired as it was Forest’s substitutes who were the ones to make a difference.
Anthony Elanga sprinted forward on the counter-attack and fed Hudson-Odoi, who cut inside and fired brilliantly low and hard beyond Alisson Becker.
Slot’s men failed to rally and the stands at Anfield even began to empty with five minutes remaining — a rare sight during Jurgen Klopp’s glorious reign in charge.
“If you lose a home game it’s always a setback,” added Slot. “Especially if you face a team who, we never know, maybe they will go all the way to fight for the Champions League, but normally this team is not ending up in the top 10, so if you lose a game against them that’s a big disappointment.” Defeat leaves the Reds three points behind champions Manchester City, who stretched their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 win over Brentford.
And Slot has little time to come up with a solution as Liverpool travel to AC Milan to begin their Champions League campaign on Tuesday.
“If I would change my way of preparation after a loss, that means I only do the best work I can after we lose,” said the former Feyenoord boss.
“We will try to in the best possible way be prepared for Tuesday, which is going to be a completely different game but also a game where we will face a lot of quality.
– Haaland denied hat-trick history –
Manchester City took full advantage of Liverpool’s defeat to move clear at the top by stretching their 100 percent record to four games despite a disastrous start.
However, Haaland’s form at the start of the season remains unstoppable, even if the Norwegian just missed out on a record third consecutive hat-trick in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old’s powerful deflected effort brought City level before he showed a combination of strength and skill to shrug off Ethan Pinnock and dink the ball over the onrushing Mark Flekken.
Only the post denied Haaland another hat-trick after half-time but he now has a Premier League record nine goals in the first four games of the season.
“He’s just an absolute machine in front of goal and I can’t speak highly enough of him,” said City’s Jack Grealish of Haaland, who had been doubtful due to the death this week of a close family friend.
“It does speak volumes about him as a person and his mental strength.”
– United bounce back to steady ship –
Manchester United had been left to fester on their humbling by Liverpool for two weeks over the international break, but bounced back after a slow start at Southampton.
The Red Devils needed a penalty save from Andre Onana to deny Cameron Archer before two goals in five minutes just before half-time swung the game decisively in the visitors’ favour.
Matthijs de Ligt nodded in his first United goal before Marcus Rashford ended his six-month drought by finding the bottom corner with a curling effort.
Southampton are yet to register a point in four games since their return to the top flight and inflicted more damage on themselves when captain Jack Stephens saw red for a wild lunge on Alejandro Garnacho.
The Argentine dusted himself off to then round off the scoring with a thumping finish into the roof of the net in stoppage time.
“Once Andre stopped the penalty, straight after, we scored a goal with Matthijs de Ligt, the game was all ours and we dominate the game from that point,” said Ten Hag.
– Everton blow another lead –
Aston Villa moved up to third after Everton blew a two-goal lead for the second consecutive game.
Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave the Toffees a dream start at Villa Park.
But Everton remain without a point this season due to dreadful defending. Ollie Watkins struck twice either side of half-time to level before Jhon Duran’s stunning strike from distance earned Villa a third win in four games.
Brighton remain unbeaten but were unable to break down Ipswich in a 0-0 draw at the Amex.
Crystal Palace came from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Leicester thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s double.
West Ham also struck late through Danny Ings to snatch a 1-1 draw at Fulham.
English Premier League results
Southampton 0 Man Utd 3 (De Ligt 35, Rashford 41, Garnacho 90+6)
Fulham 1 (Jimenez 24) West Ham 1 (Ings 90+5)
Manchester City 2 (Haland 19, 32) Brentford 1 (Wissa 1)
Liverpool 0 Nottingham Forest 1 (Hudson-Odoi 72)
Brighton 0 Ipswich 0
Crystal Palace 2 (Mateta 47, 90+2-pen) Leicester 2 (Vardy 21, Mavididi 46)
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