Previous to the worldwide break Liverpool suffered a chastening 3-0 defeat by the hands of Manchester Metropolis.
Contemplating Pep Guardiola’s facet are perennial title challengers, you possibly can excuse that blemish on Arne Slot’s copybook.
Nevertheless, because the Reds welcomed lowly Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Saturday, it was an exquisite alternative to construct some momentum and discover some kind forward of a kinder run of fixtures.
How disastrous it has began. Slot’s job was introduced below additional scrutiny as his males have been downed 3-0 in entrance of their very own followers. Gulp, this was not what Liverpool wanted.
Throughout their final 11 video games, they’ve solely gained three video games. That is actually not the crew that gained the Premier League at a canter final season.
On the centre of their points has been Ibrahima Konate.
Konate’s efficiency vs Nottingham Forest
Final season Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t fairly throw within the towel however his performances have been abject as he pursued a transfer to Actual Madrid.
This season, the identical factor seems to be enjoying an element within the performances of Ibrahima Konate who appears to be like a shadow of his former self.
The Frenchman has been error-ridden this season and his show in opposition to Forest summed all the pieces up.
Analyst Raj Chohan took to social media to exclaim that “each time he makes one error, he makes a number of.”
He was notably at fault for the controversial second that Igor Jesus was concerned in when his objective was disallowed for handball.
The Brazilian fully caught out Liverpool’s underperforming centre-back as he threw himself to the ground and was lucky that it was dominated out.
So poor was Konate’s show that he was dragged off on 55 minutes quickly after Liverpool went 2-0 down. He left the pitch with a wry smile, hardly the perspective you need from somebody who’s been linked with a transfer away so frequently, and to Madrid of all locations too.
He was handed a 3/10 match score by GOAL however didn’t depart the pitch as their worst performer.
Liverpool’s worst performer in opposition to Nottingham Forest
Whereas Liverpool’s defence will come below the microscope of scrutiny for his or her failings in opposition to Sean Dyche’s males, their ahead line can be not pulling up any timber both.
For a facet that spent over £200m on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, far way more must be anticipated.
Wirtz didn’t begin the sport at Anfield on Saturday however Isak did. Followers, nevertheless, should be wishing he hadn’t.
Signed in a British file £125m deal over the summer time, it has been a wretched first few months in Liverpool purple for the Swede.
He has performed 9 instances now and solely has one objective, a strike within the Carabao Cup, to indicate for his efforts.
Since then, Isak has failed to attain. He’s with out a objective in 5 league video games and all 4 of his Premier League begins have led to defeat.
The nadir of his Anfield profession up to now got here this weekend when he was nameless in opposition to Forest. GOAL handed the striker a dismal 2/10 score, writing that he ‘hardly had a kick’ and ‘wasn’t even near breaking his duck right here’.
Because of this he was subbed off for Federico Chiesa after 68 minutes and easily can’t be within the beginning lineup for his or her Champions League conflict in midweek.
|
Isak vs Forest |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes performed |
68 |
|
Touches |
14 |
|
Correct passes |
5/7 (71%) |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Profitable dribbles |
0 |
|
Photographs |
1 |
|
Photographs heading in the right direction |
0 |
|
Floor duels gained |
0 |
|
Aerial duels gained |
0 |
|
Stats through Sofascore. |
|
Whereas Hugo Ekitike has barely been in good kind himself, Liverpool’s greatest shows in 2025/26 have include their fellow summer time signing within the crew.
Isak’s show this time round was so nameless that he had simply 14 touches of the soccer. Within the course of he gave possession away seven instances. For each two touches of the ball, he was giving it away.
Often so technically safe and cozy in possession, it’s an enormous fear that he can’t even get himself into the motion.
To compound the striker’s woes, he misplaced each single one among his duels and managed one shot which wasn’t even heading in the right direction.
For any new signing to be in such a determined rut could be a priority however when he’s the most costly participant in Premier League, additional considerations emerge. He’s paying the value for a scarcity of pre-season and it’s desperately hurting Liverpool’s season.
Maybe they need to have caught with Ekitike in spite of everything.
