Arne Slot insists Liverpool nonetheless have rather a lot to show regardless of profitable all three of their opening Premier League fixtures forward of welcoming Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Saturday.
The Dutchman is seeking to develop into the primary supervisor to maintain 4 clear sheets of their first 4 league video games on the helm, with the Reds the one facet within the division but to concede this time period.
Liverpool’s defensive enhancements have been overshadowed by their fluidity in assault, which was evident of their spectacular 3-0 win over Manchester United earlier than the worldwide break.
However Slot defined that not a lot wanted tweaking to resolve the Reds’ defensive rearguard that conceded 41 targets final yr, acknowledging his facet’s good begin means nothing simply but.
“I usually don’t use the phrase ‘proud’ however what I feel we did very effectively in all three video games is, like I simply talked about, the work fee with out the ball,” Slot mentioned.
“So, we attempt to press the opponent as excessive as we will but when they play by way of or over our press, I see everyone working actually arduous to verify we don’t want Alisson.
“I don’t suppose that a lot distinction. You’re used to, for those who adopted Liverpool for a very long time, them urgent actually excessive. That’s what we attempt to do now as effectively.
“Like I mentioned, three video games performed, the primary two with Ipswich and Brentford have been troublesome opponents. A very good begin, let that be clear, however nonetheless rather a lot to show.”
Subsequent up, we’re again at Anfield #LIVNFO pic.twitter.com/JsO5b2Jrei
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 11, 2024
Forest, in the meantime, might be seeking to put an finish to Liverpool’s good begin to the season to take care of their very own unbeaten run within the prime flight this time period.
Nuno Espirito Santo needed to accept a degree towards former membership Wolves final outing however will be capable of unleash his late additions within the switch window at Anfield.
James Ward-Prowse and Morato joined on the ultimate day of the window, with the Forest head coach hopeful the pair can present the rhythm that was lacking final outing.
“First half the sport was not within the rhythm – an excessive amount of disruption,” Nuno mentioned.
“The rhythm of the sport for each groups was lose possession, a disrupted sport. One constructive is we scored and the destructive is we conceded so shortly.
“It modified within the second half, we have been extra dominant and we put Wolves towards the ropes.”
It ends degree at The Metropolis Floor. pic.twitter.com/SADykEw1Kq
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) August 31, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool – Diogo Jota
Jota has loved his earlier conferences with Forest, scoring six targets in 5 appearances towards them in all competitions.
He has netted in all three of his video games towards the Tough Timber for Liverpool (4 targets), which is his longest scoring run towards a single opponent in his English membership profession.
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wooden
Wooden has scored 4 of Nottingham Forest’s final 5 Premier League targets, together with two of their three to date this season.
Nevertheless, Wooden has by no means scored in 11 league appearances towards Liverpool, solely dealing with Chelsea (12) extra instances within the Premier League with out scoring.
MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN
Either side come into the competition with an unbeaten Premier League document this marketing campaign, however it’s Liverpool who’re anticipated to come back out on prime, profitable 75.9% of Opta’s data-led simulations.
The Reds are unbeaten of their final 25 dwelling league video games towards Nottingham Forest (W20 D5), profitable the final six in a row. Their final such defeat was in February 1969 underneath Invoice Shankly (0-2).
Liverpool have received all three of their Premier League video games underneath new supervisor Slot with out conceding a single aim. No supervisor within the competitors’s historical past has stored a clear sheet in every of their first 4 matches in cost, whereas solely six have received every of their first 4, most just lately Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea in 2018.
The hosts have solely misplaced as soon as of their final 24 Premier League matches which have instantly adopted a global break (W18 D5), happening 4-1 at Manchester Metropolis in April 2023. When enjoying at Anfield within the league straight after a global break, Liverpool haven’t misplaced since September 2014 towards Aston Villa (0-1).
However Forest are unbeaten in 4 Premier League matches (W2 D2), their longest such run underneath Nuno, whereas not since February 2023 have they loved an extended unbeaten streak within the division (5 video games).
Nevertheless, the Tough Timber have misplaced their final three Premier League video games towards Liverpool, their longest run of league defeats towards the Reds since a run of 5 between 1983 and 1985.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Liverpool – 75.9%
Draw – 14.3%
Nottingham Forest – 9.8%