Liverpool’s unbeaten run under new manager Arne Slot came to a surprising halt on Saturday as Nottingham Forest secured a 1-0 victory at Anfield. Meanwhile, Manchester City capitalized on Liverpool’s slip to extend their lead at the Premier League summit with a 2-1 win over Brentford, thanks to a double from Erling Haaland.
Nottingham Forest, who had not won at Anfield in the top flight for 55 years, stunned the home crowd when Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the decisive goal 18 minutes from time. Liverpool, who had started the season strongly with three wins from three, including a notable 3-0 victory at Manchester United, struggled to replicate their earlier form.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed his frustration post-match, highlighting the team’s lack of sharpness. “The result frustrates the most and we cannot be happy about how the game went. It was a stop-start game and we hardly created any chances,” Slot remarked. “We only have to look at ourselves, we have to be better. Far too many times we lost the ball around the area, it was not good enough. We have to be better with the ball.”
The win lifts Nottingham Forest to fifth place in the table with eight points from four games, a promising start for the side.
Manchester City seized the opportunity to move three points clear at the top of the league, maintaining their perfect start to the season with a fourth consecutive win. Erling Haaland was once again the standout performer, scoring twice to secure the victory over Brentford. His powerful deflected effort and a superbly executed finish showcased his exceptional form, though he narrowly missed out on a record third consecutive Premier League hat-trick.
“He’s just an absolute machine in front of goal and I can’t speak highly enough of him,” said City’s Jack Grealish, praising Haaland’s performance. “It does speak volumes about him as a person and his mental strength.”
In other notable fixtures, Manchester United eased the pressure on Erik ten Hag with a convincing 3-0 win at Southampton. Aston Villa climbed to third place after a dramatic 3-2 win over Everton, who threw away a two-goal lead for the second consecutive game. Villa’s Ollie Watkins scored twice and Jhon Duran added a stunning strike to secure the win.
Brighton maintained their unbeaten record with a 0-0 draw against Ipswich at the Amex Stadium. Crystal Palace fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Leicester, thanks to a double from Jean-Philippe Mateta. West Ham also secured a late 1-1 draw at Fulham, with Danny Ings scoring the equalizer.
The Premier League action continues to deliver excitement as teams battle it out at the start of the season.
