Three Liverpool Players Who Need to Step Up After Nottingham Forest Upset
Liverpool experienced their first loss under Arne Slot, falling 1-0 to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, coming off the bench, netted a remarkable goal in the second half, handing Nottingham Forest their most significant Premier League victory of the season at Anfield.
After reviewing the match, Newsnow Liverpool has identified three players who need to step up in upcoming games.
Manager Arne Slot might have to rethink his approach and consider adjustments from the sidelines.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai’s display in Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest exposed areas that need improvement.
He misplaced several passes in the opening half and often slowed down play when quicker passing could have benefited the team.
After moving to a more central-left position following Mac Allister’s substitution, Szoboszlai found it challenging to make a noticeable impact.
His only significant contribution came late in the game with a shot that was deflected just wide. Although he remained strong in aerial duels and wasn’t outplayed, he struggled to penetrate Forest’s defense, leading to a disappointing performance where he couldn’t create key attacking chances for Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah
It was not a memorable day for the Egyptian forward, as his performance was far from his best. He had a subdued first half and missed a significant opportunity near the end when he failed to control a long pass.
After the second half began, Salah showed some promise, creating a chance with a sharp dribble and a right-footed strike. However, his frustration quickly grew as he attempted several off-target shots.
The most disheartening moments came when he wasted multiple square balls across the box, none of which reached their intended targets, squandering valuable opportunities.
Salah’s final touch let him down repeatedly, as he found himself in promising positions only to lose control of the ball. It was one of his most disappointing performances of the season.
Liverpool did not deliver an impressive display of football, but fortunately, they can shift focus quickly as the Champions League begins on Tuesday.
Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson stands out as a player who must raise his performance levels. Throughout the match, he consistently appeared a step behind in important 50-50 challenges, flowing attacking moves, and overlapping runs.
His contributions in the final third were limited, and he missed a crucial chance to advance into the box from a well-timed through pass.
Shortly after his introduction, Elanga managed to beat Robertson, which resulted in the latter receiving a booking.
Robertson’s struggle to make a significant offensive impact, combined with his yellow card and eventual substitution, underscores the necessity for him to improve in future games.
Doing so would help Liverpool’s attack and allow him to contribute more effectively from the wing.
In other Liverpool news, 18x Possession Lost, 50% Ground Duels Won: 23yo Star Was Liverpool’s Worst Player vs Forest, Should Be Dropped
