Liverpool’s defence of the Premier League title hit another road block when Arne Slot’s side lost 0-3 to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. This was the latest humbling for the side after they had lost 0-3 to Manchester City a few weeks ago before the start of the international break.
Murillo opened the scoring for Forest in the 33rd minute before Nicolo Savona doubled their lead just one minute after half time. Morgan Gibbs White punched the final nail on the Reds’ coffin after he slammed home in the 78th minute. The latest loss saw the defending champions plummet to 11th in the table with 18 points, 8 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal who still have a game in hand.
This was Liverpool’s fifth defeat from its last six games in England’s top flight. To put that into context, Arne Slot’s team only lost four over the entire season last term when winning a record-equaling 20th title.
“I didn’t expect it but it’s happened,” Gibbs-White told Premier League Productions. “I’m out there trying to help the team as much as possible. I thought the boys were brilliant today. Delighted we got the three points but I hope we’re out of the relegation zone.”
Forest won 1-0 at Anfield early last season, handing Liverpool their only home loss of their championship season. Their win on Saturday could have been even more lopsided. Forest’s Igor Jesus celebrated what he thought was his first league goal but it was chalked off for a hand-ball after a VAR review.
Liverpool, whose defeat piles more pressure on Slot, had their chances and took 21 shots to Forest’s 15.
Alexis Mac Allister had a near point-blank shot blocked by Elliot Anderson early in the game. Mohamed Salah, who was making his 300th league appearance, put in a lovely cross for Milos Kerkez that he hit over the crossbar later in the first half and Dominik Szoboslai unleashed a rocket of a shot from the top of the box that was deflected out of danger.
(with agency inputs)
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