‘Arne Slot’ firmly states what he will not tolerate at Liverpool: “It doesn’t fit with me”

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted that his team’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest earlier this season was a pivotal moment in his tenure, one that left a lasting impact. The defeat, which occurred at Anfield in September, remains the only blemish on his Premier League record and quickly became the subject of humorous memes across social media. For Slot, it serves as a clear example of what he refuses to accept from his players.

As Liverpool heads to the City Ground this evening, they are eager to avenge that defeat. The setback in September halted their early momentum under Slot and showcased that Forest, under Nuno Espirito Santo, could be a serious force in the league this season. In fact, Forest’s surprise success has made them a contender, currently tied with Arsenal for second place after winning six consecutive league matches.

Reflecting on that September loss, Slot is clear about his frustration. “I definitely don’t wipe it from my memory,” he says. “There were not that many things we did well in that game. What I mostly disliked was that in the last 20-25 minutes, I didn’t see anything happening.”

Slot was especially concerned that his players didn’t step up when the game was slipping away. “You want to see players saying, ‘enough is enough,’ and fighting harder—more aggressive, more duels, more sprints,” he explains. “I was mostly worried that didn’t happen.” Although he’s not ruling out the possibility of a similar situation arising again, Slot made it clear to his squad that such a response is not acceptable. “What I told the players is that it doesn’t fit me,” he says, referencing his time at Feyenoord where players often rose to the occasion in similar situations. “I said to them this probably doesn’t fit you guys as well because with Jürgen Klopp, you always came back.”

However, Slot is optimistic, noting that since that loss, his players have shown a stronger mentality. “The good thing is that was also the only game where it happened,” he says. “In every game since, when we went behind, we did put our foot on the gas.”

Looking back on the game, Slot also recalled experimenting with his lineup. “I made one or two substitutions and played Trent Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder for the first time,” he says. “It was a learning moment for me, figuring out what works for the team.”

Forest’s strong start to the season has taken many by surprise, considering their struggles in recent years. They’ve made substantial investments, spending over £200 million since returning to the Premier League in 2022, a figure higher than Liverpool’s spending in the same period. Slot has dismissed direct comparisons with his former club AZ Alkmaar, pointing out that Forest‘s financial outlay has given them a better foundation. “If you spend so much money, you will have good players,” he notes. “And then you need a manager who brings that out of them. That is what Nuno Espirito Santo is doing great at the moment.”

While Liverpool will be without Darwin Nunez (suspended) and Joe Gomez (injured), Slot has a near-full squad to choose from and is likely to make up to 10 changes from the team that beat Accrington Stanley 4-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Despite some media claims of Liverpool faltering after two winless games against Manchester United (2-2 draw) and Tottenham Hotspur (1-0 defeat in the League Cup), Slot remains confident in his team’s performance. “Those would be the people who only look at the result, not the performance,” he says. “If you look at the performance, I didn’t see many different things compared to other games.”

Acknowledging the challenges in their recent fixtures, Slot adds, “After what we saw on Sunday with United beating Arsenal, our result against United might not even be such a strange result anymore.” He insists that performance is what matters most: “As long as they work really hard and give everything they’ve got, sometimes another team can be a bit luckier or deserve the points.”

Now, as Liverpool prepares for the return fixture against Forest, Slot’s focus remains on improving his side’s mentality and ensuring they do not repeat the mistakes of that fateful September match.