Liverpool has enjoyed more privileges than it deserved in Nottingham.

Liverpool secured a dramatic stoppage-time victory at Nottingham Forest, but manager Arne Slot admitted that his side’s performance fell well short of expectations. Reflecting on the 1-0 win, Slot labelled the match as “the worst we have played all season.”

At the City Ground, Liverpool appeared a shadow of their usual selves. Former Reds captain Jamie Carragher described Liverpool’s first-half display as a “horror show,” highlighting the team’s struggles to impose themselves against a resolute Forest side. Despite this, Liverpool eventually earned three points thanks to a late strike from Alexis Mac Allister, who netted in the sixth minute of added time after a previous effort from the Argentine had been disallowed by VAR in the 89th minute.

Speaking after the match, Slot was candid about the gulf between performance and result. “These three points were not deserved,” he stated. “Thankfully, we got them, but the first half was dreadful – by far our worst of the season. The second half was better; we controlled the game more, but overall it did not reflect the standard of football we have shown this term.”

He continued, “If we judge purely on performance, especially in that first half, we fell far short of what we are capable of this season. Yet, football is often like this – sometimes you play well and come away with nothing; today, we got more than we were entitled to. A draw would probably have been a fairer result.”

The match itself was a dramatic affair, with Liverpool eventually claiming victory in the closing moments. Forest had looked dangerous throughout, and it was only in the dying stages that Mac Allister’s strike secured a priceless three points. The disallowed goal in the 89th minute had initially threatened to leave Liverpool with a frustrating stalemate, but VAR intervention and persistence ultimately swung the outcome in their favour.

Match Summary

While the final scoreline provides comfort for Liverpool in the Premier League, Slot’s assessment serves as a stark reminder that performance and result do not always align. The Reds will hope to rediscover their rhythm ahead of upcoming fixtures, as consistency remains crucial in their push for honours this season.