Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM UTC

Match Analysis

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest: Premier League 2024 Analysis

Match Overview

On September 14, 2024, Liverpool faced Nottingham Forest at Anfield in a Premier League regular season match. The game ended in a surprising 1-0 victory for Nottingham Forest, marking their first win at Anfield since 1969. This match was particularly significant as it handed Liverpool's new head coach, Arne Slot, his first defeat since taking over from Jurgen Klopp.

Final Score

Liverpool 0 - 1 Nottingham Forest

Key Moments and Tactical Analysis

  1. First Half: Liverpool's Dominance but Lack of Cutting Edge

    • Liverpool dominated possession in the first half, controlling the ball for 70% of the time.
    • Luis Diaz came closest to scoring for Liverpool, hitting the post in the 17th minute after a solo effort.
    • Despite their dominance, Liverpool's attacks lacked fluidity and cohesion. The forwards often found themselves on different wavelengths, leading to missed opportunities.
    • Nottingham Forest's defensive setup was disciplined and physical, disrupting Liverpool's rhythm and preventing clear-cut chances.

  2. Second Half: Tactical Changes and the Decisive Goal

    • Arne Slot made a triple substitution around the 60th minute, bringing on Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, and Conor Bradley to inject fresh energy into the attack.
    • Nottingham Forest's tactical discipline continued to frustrate Liverpool. The visitors were well-organized and executed their game plan effectively.
    • The decisive moment came in the 72nd minute when Anthony Elanga, a substitute, delivered a brilliant crossfield ball to Callum Hudson-Odoi. Hudson-Odoi cut inside and curled a superb shot past Alisson, giving Forest the lead.
    • Liverpool's attempts to equalize were thwarted by Forest's resolute defending. Virgil van Dijk's header from a corner that flew over the bar was the closest they came to scoring.

Player Performances

Liverpool

  • Alisson (6/10): Had little to do but was left helpless for the goal. Made a crucial save to prevent a second goal.
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold (4/10): Struggled to impact the game from right-back and midfield. Lost possession leading to the goal.
  • Virgil van Dijk (7/10): Defensively solid but unable to contribute effectively in attack.
  • Andy Robertson (5/10): Worked hard but lacked creativity going forward.
  • Ryan Gravenberch (4/10): Quiet performance, struggled to influence the game.
  • Alexis Mac Allister (6/10): One of Liverpool's brighter players, created a few chances but couldn't sustain his impact.
  • Dominik Szoboszlai (4/10): Showed glimpses of quality but faded in the second half.
  • Mohamed Salah (4/10): Below par performance, wasteful in possession and lacked his usual cutting edge.
  • Diogo Jota (5/10): Limited impact, struggled to find space.
  • Luis Diaz (6/10): Hit the post early on but was otherwise contained by Forest's defense.

Nottingham Forest

  • Matz Sels (6/10): Made crucial saves to keep Forest in the game.
  • Ola Aina (8/10): Defensively solid, repelled Liverpool's attacks effectively.
  • Nikola Milenkovic (7/10): Key part of a strong defensive effort.
  • Murillo (7/10): Vital blocks and interceptions, good passing.
  • Alex Moreno (8/10): Shut down Salah and contributed going forward.
  • Nicolas Dominguez (6/10): Won defensive duels but offered little in attack.
  • Ryan Yates (7/10): Set the tone with physical challenges, covered a lot of ground.
  • James Ward-Prowse (7/10): Vital in preventing Liverpool from playing through the middle.
  • Elliot Anderson (7/10): Maintained possession well, helped Forest move up the pitch.
  • Morgan Gibbs-White (7/10): Tenacious, ensured his team got over the line.
  • Chris Wood (6/10): Made Liverpool's defenders work, though didn't win his battle with van Dijk.

Tactical Analysis

Liverpool's Approach:

  • Arne Slot's side aimed to dominate possession and break down Forest's low block.
  • The team struggled with cohesion and fluidity in attack, often losing the ball in promising positions.
  • Slot's tactical changes, including moving Alexander-Arnold into midfield, did not yield the desired results and made the team more disjointed.

Nottingham Forest's Approach:

  • Nuno Espirito Santo's side executed a well-organized and disciplined defensive game plan.