Liverpool plunged into crisis as thumping Anfield defeat leaves boss Arne Slot with big questions to answer

"Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White scored the goals but much of the damage was self-inflicted by Arne Slot's side, whose title defence lies in tatters as they slipped to 11th in the table. It was Forest's biggest win at Anfield - and the third in six matches under new manager Sean Dyche - and Liverpool's heaviest home defeat since losing 4-1 to Manchester City in 2021."

"Defeat adds more fuel to the fire of critics who say the Reds' £450million summer spending spree has destabilised the team and it was no more evident than putting British record signing Alexander Isak straight back in the team after a month out as Slot tries to fast-track his return to match fitness. The ploy did not work with the Sweden international looking out of touch with his team-mates, managing just one touch in the opening 20 minutes."

"Ibrahima Konate, whose contract expires in the summer, continued to look like a player whose mind is elsewhere with an error-strewn performance which led to the first goal and but for an almost imperceptible handball would have led to another two minutes later. When he got away with pushing Igor Jesus to prevent the striker racing onto a nutmeg, Slot put the France international out of his misery and replaced him with striker Hugo Ekitike."

"That prompted a switch to 4-2-4 with the Frenchman partnering Isak but it made little difference. Confidence is so fragile that once Liverpool, who had been the better team for half an hour, conceded they fell apart and even Mohamed Salah, who had started to resemble a more familiar version of himself, could not drag them back. Forest's impressive England midfielder Elliot Anderson had denied Alexis Mac Allister with a superb goalline block while Milos Kerkez ballooned over from close range."

Nottingham Forest beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield with goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White. The result was Forest's biggest win at Anfield and Liverpool's heaviest home defeat since 2021, leaving Liverpool 11th and their title defence in tatters. Critics pointed to the club's £450million summer spending and a failed attempt to rush Alexander Isak back after a month out, with Isak managing one touch in the opening 20 minutes. Defensive errors, notably from Ibrahima Konate whose contract expires in summer, and fragile confidence prompted a tactical switch to 4-2-4 but Liverpool collapsed after conceding.

Read at Irish Independent