Key points
Liverpool lost for the first time under new manager Arne Slot, with Callum Hudson-Odoi’s 72nd-minute strike sinking the home side on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds went into Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest knowing a win could send them to the top of the Premier League table.
Both sides were unbeaten heading into today’s game, with Liverpool having beaten Ipswich, Brentford and Manchester United in their first three matches of the season.
The game itself proved to be a far bigger test than many expected for Liverpool, who struggled to break down a stubborn Forest defence.
Luis Diaz went closest to scoring for the hosts in the first half, after striking Matz Sels’ post following a mistake from Ryan Yates.
Undeterred, the visitors managed to keep the game goalless heading into the second period, and with 18 minutes of normal time left to play, Hudson-Odoi stunned Anfield by beating Alisson from 20 yards.
The winger’s goal proved to be the difference maker for Forest, who secured a first victory at Anfield since 1969.
Next up for Liverpool is a trip to AC Milan in their first match of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
After the disappointment of today’s match, Slot will be looking for a big reaction at San Siro.
Here’s how Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest unfolded on Saturday afternoon.
That’s all for tonight
Thanks for joining us on a disappointing afternoon for Arne Slot’s Reds.
We’ll be back on Tuesday night as Liverpool look to bounce back against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
[Link]Reds lose ground to leaders Man City
Today’s result means Liverpool slip three points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City – who won 2-1 at home to Brentford.
Slot’s side remain in second, although Arsenal and Newcastle could both leapfrog the Reds when they play tomorrow.
[Link]FULL-TIME – Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
It’s elation in the away end, as Forest win at Anfield for the first time since 1969.
‘Slot’s honeymoon period is over,’ Sutton declares on Radio 5 Live.
Stay with us for more reaction to today’s stunning result.
[Link]Yellow card – Trent Alexander-Arnold
There are just seconds left now as the defender picks up a needless yellow.
[Link]Five minutes added-on
We’re into added time.
Liverpool continue to look completely out of sorts in attack…
[Link]Chris Sutton – Liverpool have been ‘so careless’ today
Chances for Elanga and Szoboszlai
Elanga forces a decent stop from Alisson on the break, with Szoboszlai winning Liverpool a corner kick just moments later.
Van Dijk’s header from the corner-kick then loops over Sels’ crossbar.
There are just a couple of minutes left now…
[Link]10 minutes left to play
Liverpool are pushing for an equaliser, with Alexander-Arnold trying to make things happen from central positions.
Forest continue to frustrate the hosts with some effective time-wasting tactics.
[Link]Forest penalty appeal
Hudson-Odoi is at the heart of the action again, taking a tumble inside the Liverpool box.
The incident is checked by the VAR officials, but they decide against advising the referee to go to the pitch-side monitor.
[Link]
Liverpool substitutions
OFF – Konate, Robertson
ON – Jones, Tsimikas
Liverpool go to three at the back.
[Link]GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Hudson-Odoi, 72′)
Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has stunned Anfield!
His strike from 20 yards brilliantly curls past a helpless Alisson.
It’s a ‘smash and grab from Forest’, in the words of Sutton.
[Link]Anthony Elanga flashes shot over the bar
The away side are still a big threat on the counter. A fine team move eventually sees Elanga with the ball at his feet just inside the penalty box, but his shot is erratic and off tagret.
Sutton states that it’s the ‘best move of the game’ from Forest.
Liverpool then have a chance of their own, as Van Dijk’s header is cleared off the line.
[Link]Goalless at the hour mark
Liverpool still can’t find a way past this stubborn Forest back-line.
We’ve got less than 30 minutes of regular time left to play…
[Link]Liverpool Substitutions
OFF – Mac Allister, Diaz, Jota
ON – Bradley, Nunez, Gakpo
Alexander-Arnold moves into midfield with Bradley slotting in at Right-back.
[Link]Wood goes close!
BIG moment for Forest.
They hit Liverpool on the counter, with Wood having a great opportunity to score just inside Alisson’s penalty area.
He can’t beat the Brazilian however, who gets down well to his left to keep the game at 0-0.
[Link]Salah forces save from Sels
The winger unleashes a powerful strike from a tight angle, but Sels has it covered
According to Sutton on commentary, it’s a save you’d ‘expect him to make’.
It remains 0-0 after 53 minutes.
[Link]First half ‘pretty much perfect’ for Forest – Sutton
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Chris Sutton adds that the away side need to carry ‘more of a threat’ in the second half after frustrating Liverpool so far.
[Link]Players are in the tunnel…
The second half is about to get underway.
There are no changes for either side at the break.
[Link]
HALF-TIME – Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
The referee blows up for half-time.
Liverpool will be disappointed to be level at the break, having created some good chances.
It’s fair to say they haven’t been at their very best so far though.
[Link]Yellow card – Ryan Yates
The Forest captain is the first man to go into the referee’s book this afternoon.
[Link]Liverpool go close again!
It’s very nearly an absolute clanger from Sels in the Forest net.
The keeper drops a simple catch on the goal-line, and only narrowly keeps the ball out of his net after it passes through his legs.
Huge let-off for the away side…
[Link]Sels saves from Mac Allister
The hosts are piling on the pressure now.
Alexander-Arnold swings in a superb cross from the left, which Mac Allister heads goalwards.
Sels saves well to his left to deny the Argentina international.
[Link]0-0 after 30 minutes
Still nothing to separate the two sides at the half-hour mark.
Van Dijk is the latest player to aim a shot at the Forest goal, but his tame header from a corner-kick trickles wide.
[Link]Diogo Jota squanders big chance
The forward is picked out in the box thanks to a fine outside-of-the-boot pass from Mac Allister.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Jota directs the ball straight at Sels from a few yards out – who gratefully clings to the ball.
25 minutes in, it’s still 0-0.
[Link]Salah grows into the game
It’s still 0-0 at Anfield, but the Egyptian is really impressing on the right-hand side.
He whips in a teasing cross for Dominic Szoboszlai, who can’t steer his header on target.
Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister is back on his feet after receiving a blow to the head.
Luis Diaz hits the post!
It’s Liverpool’s best chance so far, as Diaz nicks the ball off Ryan Yates in a dangerous area.
The Colombian then cuts inside the Forest box, and his shot strikes the near-post from a tight angle.
Yates will be a very relieved man…
[Link]Liverpool dominate the ball
As expected, it’s all Liverpool so far in terms of possession.
They’re yet to threaten the Forest goal, however.
[Link]Andrew Robertson goes down…
The Left-back is accidentally struck in the face and is in some discomfort.
Thankfully, he looks okay to continue.
[Link]Anfield pays tribute to Ron Yates
A touching minute-long applause takes place for the great Ron Yates, who captained Liverpool over 400 times.
The whole stadium rises to honour the 1965 FA Cup winner, with a special mosaic being displayed on the Kop in his honour.
He passed away last week aged 86.
[Link]Forest’s poor record at Anfield
The visitors haven’t won a league game at Anfield since 1969.
Can they break the curse this afternoon? We’re about to find out.
[Link]10 minutes to go…
Not long to wait now until kick-off.
Stay with us for extensive coverage of Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest from Anfield.
[Link]Can the Reds go top of the Premier League?
We may only be a month into the new Premier League season, but Liverpool can go top of the table today with a victory- having won three games from three matches so far.
Manchester City are the only other side on nine points, and they host Brentford today at 3pm (GMT).
[Link]No Chiesa on the bench for Liverpool
Despite reports of the Italian training over the international break in a bid to prove his fitness, Chiesa has been left out of Slot’s squad today.
Trent lights up the international break
It’s been an eventful fortnight for the 17 Liverpool players who have recently returned from international duty.
None impressed more than Trent Alexander-Arnold, however, who scooped up two MOTM awards for England. Below, you can find out what Roy Keane had to say about the Liverpool Right-back.
Confirmed Forest line-up
And here’s how the visitors will line-up today:
Forest: Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Moreno; Yates (C), Anderson, Ward-Prowse; Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Wood
Subs: Miguel, Morato, Williams, Awoniyi, Omobamidele, Hudson-Odoi, Toffolo, Jota, Elanga
[Link]Confirmed Liverpool line-up
Here’s Arne Slot’s starting XI to face Nottingham Forest today:
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Djik (C), Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Jota, Diaz
Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Endo, Nunez, Jones, Gakpo, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley
[Link]Liverpool injury news
The hosts didn’t emerged unscathed from last week’s international break.
The most notable omission today will be midfielder Harvey Elliot, who is expected to be out of action until the end of October after picking up a foot injury while on England U21 duty.
Nevertheless, there is more positive news in the engine room for Liverpool, with Alexis Mac Allister shaking off fitness concerns to be available for selection today.
Arne Slot could also select Curtis Jones in his match-day squad, who is nearing full fitness after a stretch on the sidelines.
Good afternoon!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
We’ll keep you up to date with all the developments from Anfield ahead of the 3pm Kick-off.
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