Nottingham Forest are set for their toughest test of the season as they head to Anfield to face Liverpool, now led by new head coach Arne Slot.
On Saturday, Nuno Espirito Santo and Nottingham Forest face a significant challenge as they prepare to battle a formidable opponent.
Forest have every reason to be confident. Three games into the new Premier League season, they remain unbeaten, and there’s a palpable sense of optimism around the City Ground, a rare feeling in their recent top-flight campaigns.
However, they have yet to face one of the ‘Big Six’ this season. The upcoming trip to Anfield marks their first real test. Drawing against Bournemouth and Wolves and winning at Southampton is one thing; going up against Liverpool, who haven’t dropped a point or conceded a goal, is another.
Liverpool began their campaign against newly-promoted Ipswich Town, a match that ultimately showcased their quality. They then comfortably dispatched Brentford at Anfield. Their trip to Old Trafford seemed like the real test for new coach Arne Slot—one they passed brilliantly by defeating their old rivals.
Among the many changes Slot has brought to Liverpool, defensive solidity stands out, a remarkable turnaround in such a short time under new management. This is something Nuno must be particularly mindful of, as Slot’s attention to detail is no secret.
In a post-match interview after the win at United, which has since gone viral, Slot dissected his opponent’s tactics in clear terms, highlighting his keen tactical awareness. “Last season they were man-marking in the midfield and they had the press with one of the strikers and the wingers with him. This season they are more with a No.9 and No.10 press, so they are more in a 4-4-2 [formation],” he explained.
He continued, “Their full-backs at times are really high then Casemiro comes in between, so if you pick the ball up and you can keep Lucho [Luis Diaz] and Mo Salah high then you are constantly in a one-v-one situation. Then you need midfielders that can run, we had three of them today that if they kept running and if they arrived in a duel they were aggressive enough to win it. That was one of the main things why we could win today.”
Another challenge for Forest is that Slot’s tactics remain somewhat of a puzzle for other Premier League managers. Coming in with a solid foundation from the Eredivisie, he has already outmaneuvered the likes of Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank, and Erik ten Hag with his tactical precision.
For Forest, Ibrahim Sangare must ensure he doesn’t fall prey to the same traps that saw Casemiro overrun two weeks ago. Whoever plays full-back—be it Neco Williams against his former club, Alex Moreno, or Ola Aina—must not push too far forward. If Nuno chooses to deploy three central defenders, they must be prepared for the one-on-one challenges posed by Liverpool’s front three, especially Diaz and Salah.
Nuno has gotten Forest off to a good start this season, but he might need a different strategy at Anfield if his side are to avoid being as predictable as Ten Hag’s United were.
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