Liverpool’s flawless beginning to the Premier League season came to a shocking halt as Nottingham Forest secured a 1-0 victory at Anfield. Under new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool had won their first three games without conceding a goal, but Callum Hudson-Odoi’s second-half strike proved to be the difference, marking Forest’s first league win at Anfield in 55 years.
Nottingham Forest’s Historic Win
Nottingham Forest has had their share of challenges at Anfield, but Saturday’s result will be etched in their history books. Forest was resilient throughout the match and capitalized on Liverpool’s post-international break sluggishness. Despite Liverpool dominating possession, they lacked the clinical edge to break down Forest’s disciplined defense.
Hudson-Odoi’s goal came in the 72nd minute, following a slick pass from Anthony Elanga. The winger calmly cut inside and curled a low shot past Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker, silencing the Anfield faithful. Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo praised his team’s fighting spirit: “We were against the ropes but found our moment. The players did it so well.”
Liverpool’s Frustrations
Liverpool, who had enjoyed a perfect start under Slot, were left frustrated by their inability to capitalize on chances. The Reds saw efforts from Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota either hit the post or fall short of the target. “The result frustrates the most, and we cannot be happy about how the game went,” Slot said after the match. “Far too many times, we lost the ball around the area. It was not good enough.”
Liverpool’s struggles after the international break were evident. Sloppy passing, lack of sharpness in front of goal, and uncharacteristic errors allowed Forest to hang on and ultimately steal all three points.
Manchester City and Erling Haaland Capitalize
Liverpool’s loss opened the door for Manchester City, who wasted no time in taking advantage. City overcame Brentford 2-1, thanks to two more goals from the ever-reliable Erling Haaland. Brentford took a shock lead just 22 seconds into the match, but Haaland’s brace ensured that City maintained their perfect start to the season.
The Norwegian’s deflected shot leveled the score before he outmuscled Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock and delicately chipped the ball over the goalkeeper to give City the lead. Haaland has now scored nine goals in the first four games of the Premier League season, setting a new record. Despite narrowly missing out on a third consecutive hat-trick, Haaland’s performance cemented his status as the league’s most potent striker.
Manchester United Back to Winning Ways
While Liverpool and Manchester City made headlines, Manchester United quietly returned to form with a comfortable 3-0 win over Southampton. After a humbling defeat by Liverpool two weeks ago, Erik ten Hag’s side responded well with a dominant display at St. Mary’s Stadium. A penalty save from Andre Onana was the turning point, followed by goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Marcus Rashford, who ended his six-month scoring drought. Garnacho added a third in stoppage time to cap a well-rounded performance.
Ten Hag praised his team’s character: “Once Andre stopped the penalty, we scored straight after, and the game was all ours from that point.”
Elsewhere in the Premier League
Brighton remained unbeaten but were held to a goalless draw by Ipswich, while Crystal Palace staged a dramatic comeback to draw 2-2 with Leicester City, thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s double. West Ham rescued a late point against Fulham, courtesy of a Danny Ings goal in the dying minutes.
Looking ahead, all eyes are on the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, with both teams aiming to keep pace with the leaders.
FAQs
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the winning goal for Nottingham Forest in their 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
Erling Haaland has scored nine goals in four Premier League matches this season.
Nottingham Forest won 1-0 against Liverpool.
Matthijs de Ligt and Marcus Rashford both scored in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Southampton.
Conclusion
Liverpool’s first defeat under Arne Slot was a reminder of how unpredictable the Premier League can be. Nottingham Forest’s historic win at Anfield exposed some of Liverpool’s weaknesses, while Manchester City took full advantage of the slip-up, with Erling Haaland continuing to dominate the goal charts. Manchester United, too, got back on track, highlighting the intense competition at the top of the league. As the season progresses, the Premier League is already shaping up to be a thrilling and unpredictable campaign.
