Shambolic Liverpool Trio Seriously Let Arne Slot Down in Nottingham Forest Loss

Liverpool suffered their eighth defeat in eleven matches across all competitions, falling 3–0 to Nottingham Forest at Anfield. The visitors took an early lead through a contentious first-half strike from Murillo, and although a second Forest goal was initially ruled out for handball, replays suggested the decision was harsh. Forest nonetheless doubled their advantage less than a minute into the second half when Nicola Savona finished emphatically, before Morgan Gibbs-White added a late third to seal a second successive league win at Anfield.

With injuries leaving Liverpool without a recognised right-back, Arne Slot deployed Dominik Szoboszlai in the role, while Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister formed the midfield. Alexander Isak was selected to lead the attack, and Ibrahima Konaté continued at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk. Slot relied heavily on these senior players to stabilise the team during a difficult spell, but their performances fell well below expectation.

Konaté endured a particularly poor outing, winning only 40% of his ground duels and repeatedly losing his defensive positioning. Mac Allister struggled equally, failing to track the run that led to Forest’s second goal and contributing little defensively, with no tackles made, no duels won, and multiple turnovers in possession. Isak’s issues in attack also continued, registering just one attempt on goal, completing six passes, and failing to complete a dribble before being substituted midway through the second half.

The reaction from supporters was predictably fierce. Journalists and fans highlighted Konaté’s repeated errors, with some describing his season as “horrible” to this point. Mac Allister was criticised for his defensive lapses, with several supporters labelling him a liability in midfield. Isak, who has scored only once since his £125 million move from Newcastle, faced scrutiny for managing only 11 touches in a half despite Liverpool dominating the ball.

As Liverpool prepare for a crucial Champions League meeting with PSV Eindhoven, pressure continues to mount on key members of the squad. The performances of Konaté, Mac Allister and Isak—who collectively earn over half a million pounds per week—have raised significant concerns for Slot, who now faces difficult decisions in an effort to halt the team’s

decline.