Liverpool secured a dramatic late victory at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, but manager Arne Slot admitted afterwards that the three points did not reflect his team’s performance. Slot described the match as “the worst we have played in this season,” despite the ultimate 1–0 triumph.
At the heart of the discussion was Liverpool’s first-half display, widely criticised for being disjointed and error-prone. Former Reds captain Jamie Carragher described the opening 45 minutes as a “horror show,” noting the lack of cohesion and defensive lapses.
Liverpool’s lone goal came in the sixth minute of stoppage time, when Alexis Mac Allister broke the deadlock, following the late disallowance of another effort in the 89th minute by VAR. The dramatic finish spared Liverpool the ignominy of dropping points, but Slot insisted that luck had played a major role.
“The three points we earned today were probably more than we deserved,” Slot said in his post-match interview. “The first half was terrible—by far our worst performance of the season. The second half improved somewhat, and we managed to exert more control over the game, but overall, this was not the standard of football we are used to delivering.”
Slot continued, emphasising the contrast with previous matches:
“Often, even when we have played well, we have fallen short in results. Today, I feel we received more than our fair share. From a performance standpoint, especially in the first half, a draw would have been a fairer reflection of the game.”
The closing moments of the game provided the drama Liverpool fans have come to expect. Mac Allister’s late strike ensured that the Reds left Nottingham with maximum points, but it also highlighted the inconsistencies that Slot hopes his side will address in coming fixtures.
Match Summary: Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool
| Team | Score | Key Moments |
|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | Goal disallowed in 89th minute (VAR) |
| Liverpool | 1 | Alexis Mac Allister goal in 90+6 minutes; late victory praised as fortunate |
Liverpool will look to regroup after a performance that was far below their usual standards, with Slot signalling the need for tactical and mental adjustments before their next Premier League fixture. Despite the win, questions remain about consistency and composure under pressure.