‘A draw against Nottingham would have been fairer than this win’- Liverpool boss Slot

By Tolulope Oke

Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted that his side were fortunate to leave the City Ground with all three points following a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Slot said: “If you score in the last minute, there’s always an element of luck but so many times this season, we’ve experienced the opposite. A draw would have been a fairer result than a win for us.”

The Dutch coach acknowledged Liverpool’s struggles in the first half, praising Forest’s performance while reflecting on his team’s defensive work. “The first half was difficult because Forest played well and they have good players. I wanted more control over their midfield. We lost every ball, and the only part of the game was defending inside the box. We had to defend a lot of set pieces. We stayed in the game,” he said.

Slot noted the Reds improved after the break, taking control as Forest tired, but remained cautious about relying too heavily on one player. “If we rely on one player, then things are not good, but that is not the case. Someone else has to do the job,” he said.

He also praised young talents who made an impact during the match. “The first goal was because of Ngumoha. A great cross on the head of Hugo Ekitike, which you would expect to be a goal. It was a good one v one which is what this game needed. He already plays a big part for a 17-year-old. It tells you how big of a talent he is,” Slot added.

On player availability, the Liverpool boss confirmed that Wirtz was unable to feature due to fitness concerns, but expressed optimism ahead of the next game: “We tried it in the warm-up and he wasn’t able to play. The good thing is there is a week to go until the next game.”

The victory keeps Liverpool in the hunt for a top-five Premier League finish, though Slot’s comments underline his awareness that the win came with a mix of skill and fortune.