A massive week in Liverpool’s season and saw two giants of world football face Arne
Slot’s side, before an international break separated the games with a home match
Nottingham Forest. With the Reds’ Premier League hopes fading away, it was a
period of the campaign that could prove to be so crucial. Do or die.

Two European heavyweights

With one win and one defeat in the Champions League group stage so far, Slot’s
team needed the three points, though it wasn’t going to come easy, with the
competitions most successful club arriving on Merseyside, that being Real Madrid.
After many disappointing days against the Spaniards under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool
seemed to better their fortunes last time out, with a 2-0 win over Los Blancos in this
stage of the tournament last year.

Though results haven’t been going quite as well as they were the last time we played
Real, the players were certainly hoping to repeat the result, especially with the return
of Trent Alexander Arnold to Anfield, coming back for the first time since his summer
move to the Spanish capital.

The Reds started the 90 off well, creating some decent chances and limiting the
visitors presence in the penalty area, though the breakthrough was proving to be the
missing piece of the puzzle.

Thibaut Courtois was having another sensational evening, giving the Anfield faithful
PTSD, back to the 2022 final, where he single-handedly won Madrid another
Champions League crown against the Reds.

But this time the big Belgian was beaten. Just past the hour mark and a freekick from
Dominik Szoboszlai was chipped into the area, and of all the people, Alexis Mac
Allister nodded it home for the opener. The Argentine loves a goal against Real
Madrid doesn’t he!

From there a solid defensive display was able to keep the visitors out, and after a
short Trent cameo (yes, he was booed), the Reds claimed all three points against
Xabi Alonso’s side. The European powerhouse was beaten at Anfield for the second
time in two years, this time 1-0.

A repeat of last season?

Ironically during last seasons title win, Slot’s side faced Real Madrid and Manchester
City back-to-back, beating them both 2-0, and now they are doing it again, though
not in the same form as last time out.

But a win against the Spanish giants was huge for the season, which would hopefully
get kicked started from here.

That is not what happened.

The inform Erling Haaland continued his goalscoring in the league, despite having a
penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili earlier in the first half.

The Reds then had a goal ruled out for a questionable offside offence on Andy
Robertson, which seemed to deflate the players, and the sucker-punch blow came
from Nico Gonzalez just before the half-time whistle, doubling the deficit from the
host.

The second 45 proved to be one of the worst halves seen from a Slot Liverpool side,
with energy severely lacking from most, little creativity and lacklustre defending,
which ultimately allowed Pep Guardiola’s team to put the final nail in the coffin, this
time through Jeremy Doku.

The Belgian winger had been a bright spark all game, causing the right side of the Reds’ defence massive problems on multiple occasions, though his goal was nothing short of spectacular. A curler from the edge of the box gave the keeper no chance,
as Ibrahima Konate was left helpless by the 23-year-old’s electric feet.

After that the game was dead and ended 3-0. An embarrassing defeat that would
inevitably undo all the positivity created by the Villa and Madrid wins. It was going to
be a long international break for Slot and his staff, who somehow needed to find a
way of getting this team clicking.

Bring back the international break

The Liverpool fanbase was able to enjoy two weeks without the roller coaster that is
supporting Slot’s men, however with the Premier League returning, there was an
expectation to see some sort of improvement, after the humiliating 3-0 defeat to
Manchester City a fortnight ago.

As Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest came to Anfield, the Kopties were expecting,
demanding a better performance than at the Etihad, especially when facing a team
who have had a very difficult start to the season.

However, the Liverpool faithful did not get what they wanted, not even close.
A balanced first half an hour was followed by the deadlock being broken, as Murillo’s
finish put the visitors in front.

The Reds came out of half time so slow, which ultimately caused a second to go past
the returning Alisson, this time Nicolo Savona, just one minute after the restart.
With Slot’s side chancing the game the substitutes were wild and erratic, summed
up by Konate going off for Hugo Ekitike, a centre-half for a striker.

The chaotic nature of Liverpool’s second half performance continued, and inevitably
the visitors got their third, as Morgan Gibbs-White popped up to fire Forest to three
points.

A disastrous day for Slot which will definitely pile the pressure onto the Dutch
manager. The fortress of Anfield seems to be collapsing, with three defeats in the
last five on Merseyside for the Reds.

There is no chemistry in this 11, no cohesion and the new signing are
understandably failing to make a mark, with Slot seemingly struggling to find any sort
of rhythm between his players.

With a home tie against PSV in the Champions League next, followed by a trip to the
London Stadium to face struggling West Ham, the Dutchman’s job could be under
threat if it isn’t already. In terms of retaining the title, that is well and truly gone.