Liverpool’s Possession Woes: Nottingham Forest Expose Key Tactical Flaws | OneFootball

Liverpool Loss To Nottingham Forest: Battle of Possession and Patience

Saturday afternoon at Anfield was not what Liverpool fans had in mind. What seemed destined to be a routine victory ended in unexpected frustration, as Nottingham Forest snatched a shock 1-0 win. A match that appeared straightforward on paper left everyone wondering what went wrong.

The result might have caught some off guard, but as the game played out, it became apparent that Liverpool were far from their best. While some may point to tactical issues or poor decision-making, there’s no denying that the Reds looked disjointed and lacking sharpness. Is this cause for concern, or just a minor bump in what is usually a relentless Premier League season?

As someone who had to jump through all sorts of hoops, navigating VPNs, USA streaming services, and my own frustration with the archaic 3pm blackout rule, the pain of watching Liverpool stumble was compounded. But let’s dig deeper into this game and assess where things went wrong — and whether it’s something that can be quickly put right.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool’s Misfiring Attack

Let’s be honest: Liverpool didn’t deserve anything from this game. Despite dominating possession with 70%, they were blunt in attack, registering 14 shots but only managing an xG (expected goals) of 0.9. In simpler terms, they were toothless. For a team built on pressing and creating high-quality chances, this was a surprisingly flat performance.

To put things into context, last season, Liverpool only dropped below 0.9 xG in the Premier League on three occasions — and those were against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Newcastle. For it to happen at home against Forest feels like a regression. Although Forest only generated 0.6 xG from five shots, one moment of brilliance — a well-placed strike from Callum Hudson-Odoi — was enough to secure all three points.

Forest didn’t play Liverpool off the park, but their game plan was solid. They defended deep, absorbed pressure, and waited for the right moment to strike. This was classic counter-attacking football, executed well. The introduction of pacey substitutes like Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga was a masterstroke, and ten minutes after their arrival, Elanga set up the decisive goal.

Tactical Struggles: A Game of Patience for Forest, Frustration for Liverpool

While Forest’s approach was pragmatic, Liverpool’s struggles were more about a lack of cohesion and incisiveness. It’s tempting to put the blame on Arne Slot, especially given the comparisons that are already being drawn to Klopp’s era. However, it’s worth noting that Liverpool had issues breaking down deep, defensive blocks under Klopp too. Forest knew exactly how to play this game: long balls to avoid Liverpool’s high press and compact defensive lines to stifle their creativity.

Liverpool’s right-hand side, usually such a reliable source of attacking threat, was particularly poor. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s passing accuracy dropped to 69%, while Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai both completed fewer than 70% of their passes. When your most creative outlets are misfiring like this, it’s no wonder the attack looked stale. Compounding this, backup options like Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa were unavailable due to fitness issues, leaving Liverpool without much depth to change the game.

“We lost the ball so many times in simple situations,” Slot said after the match. His assessment was spot on. Sloppy passing and poor decision-making meant Liverpool couldn’t establish any real rhythm. And when your best players keep handing possession back to the opposition, there’s only so much a manager can do.

Photo: IMAGO

Slot’s Tactical Evolution: Still Work in Progress

Slot’s tactical setup is still in its early stages at Liverpool, and this match was a real test of how the team would cope under pressure. For the first hour, Liverpool controlled the ball but lacked the urgency to break down Forest’s low block. Once Forest took the lead, the game plan seemed to unravel entirely.

Chasing the game was where Liverpool faltered. Instead of sticking to their principles, they reverted to a more direct and erratic approach. By the final 20 minutes, the formation had descended into chaos, with Van Dijk, Kostas Tsimikas, and Conor Bradley forming a makeshift backline, while Alexander-Arnold was pushed into midfield. What should have been a 3-2-5 attacking formation ended up looking more like a tactical free-for-all.

But the issue wasn’t just formation. Even with a more offensive shape, Liverpool’s decision-making was frantic and careless. Too many long balls, aimless crosses, and hurried decisions played into Forest’s hands. Slot needs to refine this system quickly if Liverpool are to thrive under his stewardship.

However, it’s important to recognise that this isn’t purely a tactical problem. The players themselves were below par. Even the most sophisticated system will fail if the execution is poor, and that was the case at Anfield. Slot may take some blame, but the players on the pitch have to raise their standards.

Breaking Down Deep Defences: A Lingering Issue

One of the more glaring issues for Liverpool is their difficulty in breaking down teams that defend deep. Forest came with a plan: refuse to press, bypass Liverpool’s high line, and let the Reds have the ball. They didn’t engage in any midfield battles, and their long-ball approach neutralised Liverpool’s pressing game.

As Slot pointed out, “We had the ball a lot, and we had to create from possession… but the other team played over our press a lot.” In essence, Forest took away one of Liverpool’s key weapons — their ability to force mistakes through relentless pressing — and Liverpool had no plan B.

There’s a growing concern that Liverpool are too reliant on high turnovers to create chances. When faced with a team that won’t engage, they seem to run out of ideas. Possession without penetration, as we saw in this game, is ultimately fruitless. And while Liverpool’s ability to control possession is admirable, they need to find ways to turn that possession into meaningful opportunities.

This isn’t an unsolvable problem, but it’s one that requires time and tactical adjustments. Slot has to work on teaching his players how to break down teams that refuse to press, teams that are content to sit back and let Liverpool have the ball. It’s a challenge that many top teams face, and it’s one Liverpool must overcome if they are to mount a serious title challenge.

Photo: IMAGO

Moving Forward: Lessons to Be Learned

So, what can Liverpool take from this defeat? As painful as it was — especially after going through all the streaming shenanigans just to watch it — there’s no need for doom and gloom just yet. Liverpool are still adjusting to Slot’s tactics, and teething problems are to be expected.

Key players like Salah, Alexander-Arnold, and Szoboszlai will return to their usual high standards, and Slot will have learned valuable lessons from this match. Liverpool need to become more adaptable. Not every team will engage them in the pressing battles they thrive on, and when that happens, they need to find other ways to win.

There’s no reason to think this defeat is indicative of long-term problems. With the talent in this Liverpool squad and the tactical nous of Slot, the Reds will bounce back. However, it’s clear that there are some tactical tweaks required, particularly in breaking down deep-lying defences and controlling games when chasing a result.

As frustrating as this defeat was, Liverpool have the tools to address these issues. With time and further refinement, they should return to winning ways. This was a blip, not a sign of a season derailed, but Slot and his players have work to do if they want to challenge for the Premier League title.