Nottingham Forest did something that not many teams will do this season. Go to Anfield and leave with three points.
Defensive structure
Forest lined up to compact the midfield, with the Forest boss selecting to not start any natural wide players. Ryan Yates, James Ward-Prowse, Nicolás Dominguez, and Elliot Anderson frustrated the Liverpool midfield and didn’t allow Liverpool and TAA especially to play how they wanted, forcing the home side to overplay and ‘hit and hope’ for large parts of the game. They defended as a unit and a clean sheet was deserved.
With Forest’s frustrating two lines of four to protect goalkeeper Matz Sels, it allowed them to do what they do so well and counterattack, exploiting Liverpool’s advanced fullbacks.
Shining fullbacks
Two standouts for Forest came from their fullbacks Álex Moreno and Ola Aina. Moreno made his league debut and didn’t look out of place in Forest’s backline. The 31-year-old Spaniard came up against one of the best wingers in the world, Mohamed Salah, and made the most tackles (6) out of anyone on the pitch and restricted Salah to three shots all game. His fullback partner Aina also had his winger Luis Diaz frustrated – Allowing him to have zero shots on target. Forest’s right-back also managed to have a 100% pass accuracy.
Super subs
In the second half, Nuno recognized that there was an opportunity to exploit such an open Liverpool side. In the 54’ and 61’ respectively, the Forest boss brought on Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga. These two subs would then combine in the 72’ to get the winner. Neco Williams, Morato, and Jota Silva also provided fresh legs to help secure all three points for Nuno’s men.
These three points continue Forest’s unbeaten league start and give them their first win at Anfield since 1969.
