Arne Slot Furious Despite Liverpool’s Smash-and-Grab Win at Nottingham Forest

There are victories that feel like statements, and then there are victories that leave managers staring at the floor in frustration. Liverpool’s dramatic 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest fell firmly into the second category.

A 97th-minute strike from Alexis Mac Allister snatched all three points, but Arne Slot was in no mood for celebration. The Liverpool manager admitted, bluntly, that it was the worst his side have played all season — and even went as far as to say they “got more than we deserved.”

For a team with title ambitions in the Premier League, it was a sobering assessment after a classic smash-and-grab job at the City Ground.

“Worst We’ve Played” – Arne Slot Pulls No Punches After Liverpool Escape at Nottingham Forest

From the opening whistle at the City Ground, something felt off about Liverpool. The tempo was sluggish, the passing loose, the sharpness missing.

By half-time, the numbers painted a worrying picture: no shots on target, just three touches in Nottingham Forest’s penalty area, and a visible lack of intensity. It was Forest — despite having played midweek football in Turkey — who looked fresher, more aggressive and more committed in the duels.

Slot did not sugar-coat it afterwards.

“The first half was really poor, the worst we’ve played until now,” he admitted. “I think we got more than we deserved. A draw would have been a fairer result.”

For a manager who has demanded high standards since arriving at Anfield, the performance clearly stung. He revealed that his half-time team talk was direct and uncompromising. The message was simple: this level was not acceptable.

And yet, despite all the criticism, Liverpool were still in the game — largely because they defended their penalty area with resilience. Forest forced a stream of set-pieces and crosses, but Liverpool’s box defending held firm.

Slot acknowledged that grit.

“As much as Forest were the better team and were forcing us back, we defended really well in our box,” he said. “If we could bring that mentality to the whole pitch… then these players can do better.”

It was a curious mix: harsh self-criticism blended with belief in what the group is capable of producing.

Late Drama, VAR Controversy and Mac Allister’s Redemption

The match seemed destined to drift into a goalless draw until chaos erupted in the closing minutes.

In the 89th minute, Alexis Mac Allister thought he had broken the deadlock. A header from Hugo Ekitike was saved brilliantly by Stefan Ortega, and the rebound ricocheted off the Argentine into the net. Celebrations were cut short after a VAR review deemed the ball had struck Mac Allister’s elbow.

The goal was disallowed.

For a moment, it felt like one of those afternoons — the kind Liverpool have experienced before — where dominance means little and fortune refuses to cooperate.

But deep into stoppage time, redemption arrived.

Dominik Szoboszlai kept his composure on the right flank, lifting a teasing cross into the area. This time, Mac Allister made no mistake. His finish in the 97th minute sealed a dramatic 1-0 win and sparked wild scenes among the travelling supporters.

It was his first Premier League goal of the campaign — and perhaps one of the most important, given the context.

Yet even the match-winner shared his manager’s mixed feelings.

“Mixed feelings, to be honest,” Mac Allister admitted. “I love scoring, I love winning. But I don’t think we played very well.”

That honesty summed up the mood. Relief, yes. Satisfaction with the performance? Not quite.

Nottingham Forest Deserved More on the Day

Credit must go to Nottingham Forest and manager Vitor Pereira. Forest executed their plan effectively for large stretches, pressing aggressively and unsettling Liverpool’s build-up play.

They forced errors, won second balls and created a hostile atmosphere that clearly affected the visitors. On another day, sharper finishing or a touch more composure in the final third could have yielded a famous victory.

Instead, they were left to rue fine margins — and Liverpool’s ability to punish even the smallest lapse.

That is often the difference at the top of the Premier League. You do not always have to play well. You simply have to survive long enough to strike.

Injury Concern Clouds the Win Ahead of West Ham

As if the performance frustrations were not enough, Slot was also forced to deal with a late injury scare before kick-off.

Florian Wirtz withdrew during the warm-up after suffering back pain, a setback that left Liverpool reshuffling plans at the last minute.

Slot downplayed the severity but admitted caution was necessary.

“He felt his back too much during the warm-up to start,” Slot explained. “He wasn’t able to be 100 percent. At his level, you need to be 100 percent.”

Liverpool now turn their attention to a clash with West Ham United next weekend. The hope inside the club is that Wirtz will recover in time, but muscle and back issues can be unpredictable.

With the fixture list tightening and the title race demanding consistency, Liverpool can ill afford to lose creative depth.

Smash-and-Grab Wins Can Define Seasons

For all the criticism, there is another way to view this result.

Title contenders often look back at seasons defined not by their most fluid performances, but by the gritty afternoons they somehow navigated. The games where nothing clicks, yet three points are secured.

Slot himself acknowledged that Liverpool have been on the wrong side of the scoreline after strong performances earlier in the campaign. This time, the script flipped.

They were below par. They were second-best for long spells. And yet they walked away victorious.

In elite football, that counts.

Still, the manager’s anger suggests he will not allow complacency to creep in. Liverpool’s standards under Slot have been built on intensity, structure and aggression with and without the ball. Against Forest, too many passes went astray, too many duels were lost.

“Maybe not lose every ball you touch,” he remarked pointedly.

It was a comment delivered with frustration — and expectation.

A Warning Shot in Victory

Liverpool remain firmly in the hunt at the top of the table, but this was a warning disguised as a win.

The Premier League rarely forgives repeat performances like this. Forest nearly capitalised. Others might.

For now, the headline reads as a dramatic late triumph. But inside the dressing room, the tone was more reflective than celebratory.

Arne Slot called it the worst his side have played this season. He admitted they got more than they deserved. Those are not throwaway lines; they are markers of a manager demanding more.

Liverpool escaped Nottingham with three points. Whether they treat it as a lucky break or a lesson learned may shape what comes next.