Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest: Player ratings as Arne Slot suffers first defeat

FROM ANFIELD - Liverpool suffered their first defeat under Arne Slot as they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Callum Hudson-Odoi's second-half goal proved the difference as the visitors extended their fine start to the new Premier League season.

Slot, meanwhile, was left to consider the first setback of his Reds reign after his side were outfought and outthought by impressive opponents.

How the game unfolded

Forest would no doubt have arrived at Anfield hoping that the hosts' momentum had been stunted by an unwanted international break, and that certainly seemed to be the case across a disjointed first-half performance.

In part thanks to the visitors' physicality and discipline, the Reds looked short of their usual rhythm for long spells, though that did not entirely stop them from creating some presentable chances.

The first of those saw Luis Diaz hit the post from close range after picking Ola Aina's pocket on the touchline.

Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister then spurned good headed opportunities either side of Diogo Jota failing to properly catch a volley inside the box.

However, the half-time break arrived with Liverpool having failed to find the breakthrough, and Forest deservedly level thanks to an impressive defensive effort.

The Reds looked like they might be ready to spark into life after half-time when Mohamed Salah twisted and turned before forcing a save with a right-footed effort.

But they did not build on that early threat, with Forest instead showing promise on the break as Morgan Gibbs-White struck wide and Anthony Elanga thrashed over.

As such, it was little surprise when the visitors did eventually make a counter pay, Hudson-Odoi cutting in before brilliantly nestling a low effort in the far corner.

Slot attempted to throw everything at it from there, turning to his substitutes' bench in a bid to change things.

But Forest never looked anything other than comfortable as they saw out their first Anfield victory since 1969.

Liverpool player ratings (4-2-3-1)

GK: Alisson - 6/10 - Didn't have much to do and was given no chance for the goal.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6/10 - Produced some fine passes at times but his radar looked off at key moments.

CB: Ibrahima Konate - 7/10 - Defended well up against Forest's pace and physicality but was sacrificed late on as Liverpool went for it.

CB: Virgil van Dijk - 7/10 - Bullied Chris Wood throughout a good performance, but he was let down by what happened in attacking areas.

LB: Andy Robertson - 6/10 - Not trouble defensively but needed to offer more threat going forward as Liverpool struggled in that aspect.

DM: Ryan Gravenberch - 7/10 - Did an excellent job shielding the back four again - Liverpool's problems were ahead of him.

DM: Alexis Mac Allister - 7/10 - Provided his usual mix of creativity and grit in the middle but couldn't last the 90 after a gruelling international break.

AM: Dominik Szoboszlai - 5/10 - Worked hard but wasted so many promising positions with wayward passing or picking the wrong option.

RW: Mohamed Salah - 4/10 - Looked miles off it throughout, consistently failing to find a teammate with his passing and offering little threat.

CF: Diogo Jota - 6/10 - Like every Liverpool forward he did not quite look at his sharpest, but still managed to get three shots away.

LW: Luis Diaz - 5/10 - Hit the post early on but clearly lost his individual battle with the impressive Ola Aina.

Substitutes

SUB: Darwin Nunez (60' for Jota) - 5/10

SUB: Conor Bradley (60' for Mac Allister) - 6/10

SUB: Cody Gakpo (60' for Diaz) - 5/10

SUB: Kostas Tsimikas (75' for Robertson) - 5/10

SUB: Curtis Jones (75' for Konate) - 5/10

Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah

Manager

Arne Slot - 4/10 - Had no answers to the sort of massed defence he is sure to face on a weekly basis after this.

Nottingham Forest player ratings (4-3-2-1)

GK: Matz Sels - 6/10 - Almost spilled one into his own net in the first half but made some crucial saves to keep Forest in it.

RB: Ola Aina - 8/10 - Almost gave up a goal early doors but was utterly flawless after that, repelling Liverpool's threat down his side time after time and also looking lively going forward.

CB: Nikola Milenkovic - 7/10 - Looked comfortable for most of the game and was a key part of a great defensive effort.

CB: Murillo - 7/10 - Always there with a vital block or interception and showed off just how incisive he can be with his passing at times.

LB: Alex Moreno - 8/10 - Just as good as Aina on the other side, the Spaniard completely shut down Salah and using the ball.

CM: Nicolas Dominguez - 6/10 - Put himself about to win a number of defensive duels n the middle but offered very little on the ball.

CM: Ryan Yates - 7/10 - Set the tone early on with a few crunching challenges and covered every blade of grass.

CM: James Ward-Prowse - 7/10 - Not hugely influential in possession but was vital to Forest's success in preventing Liverpool playing through the middle.

AM: Elliot Anderson - 7/10 - Looked after possession brilliantly when he got it, helping Forest up the pitch on numerous occasions.

AM: Morgan Gibbs-White - 7/10 - Would probably have liked to show more on the ball than he did but he was utterly tenacious to ensure his team got over the line.

CF: Chris Wood - 6/10 - Didn't exactly win his battle with Van Dijk but deserves credit for making the Liverpool defenders work whenever the ball went in his general direction.

Substitutes

SUB: Callum Hudson-Odoi (54' for Dominguez) - 7/10 - Took his goal brilliantly and was a menace when he came on.

SUB: Anthony Elanga (60' for Anderson) - 7/10 - Just as important as Hudson-Odoi to the outcome.

SUB: Neco Williams (81' for Moreno) - 6/10

SUB: Jota Silva (81' for Wood) - 6/10

SUB: Morato (81' for Gibbs-White) - 6/10

Subs not used: Carlos Miguel, Taiwo Awoniyi, Andrew Omobamidele, Harry Toffolo.

Manager

Nuno Espirito Santo - 8/10 - Oversaw the perfect performance for any bottom-half team visiting Anfield this season.

Player of the match: Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest)

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP