Welcome To The Premier League, Arne
It was never going to be perfect, was it? With tempers finally cooling down after a dismal 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, the result presents the first true setback in the Arne Slot era. Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s master plan came together beautifully. What’s next after this? Well, the Reds don’t have the time to feel sorry for themselves. They open their Champions League campaign against AC Milan this Tuesday. This would be a supposedly glorious occasion if the wind weren’t taken out of their sails.
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What Went Wrong With Arne’s Tactics?
The reality is that the Premier League is probably the hardest league to play in the world. What supporters might consider a “routine” fixture can quickly devolve into dropped points. Liverpool’s failure to get past the Forest hurdle on their home turf perfectly exemplified this point. Obviously, a massive credit should go to the Forest side who did what they had to do to secure the win. However, the Reds saw quite a dip in the standards they set over the first few games.
Key among these was the decision-making in the final third. Quite a few promising attacks ended in frustration for Arne Slot’s men. As is the tradition with the sport, missed chances can prove costly, and indeed it did for our Redmen.
A Quick Chance To Bounce Back
As mentioned, the Reds have an immediate chance to respond in their Champions League opener against AC Milan. That will undoubtedly be a tough test, as, despite the Italian giants starting the campaign rather poorly, a win against Liverpool could be the spark they need. With the lessons of the Forest defeat reflected on and taken in, Arne Slot’s men must be extremely wary of the threat that a flowing AC Milan side presents. The Rossoneri will certainly be backed by a raucous San Siro crowd. A positive outcome can prove to be the response Liverpool is hoping for. A great start in their Champions League campaign is vital, especially considering the strength of their opponents at this stage of the competition.
The Glass Half-Full Perspective
Feelings of disappointment following the Forest loss are completely understandable. Nevertheless, it’s far from the time to panic, or even be overly concerned in my opinion. Any other day and one or two of those Liverpool attacks come off. We’re looking at a 1-0 or 2-0 result even before Forest brought on their attacking reinforcements. Not to mention, Hudson-Odoi’s goal was one out of the absolute top drawer, leaving a goalie as good as our Alisson Becker with no chance.
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By the law of averages, these things happen. But more often than not, our boys usually get the result and come out on top. While I understand the game is not played on ifs, buts, and maybes, it’s too early to start hurling over-the-top criticism, especially given the context that it being Arne Slot’s first full season with the club. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt to have him adjust and implement his style. As the saying goes, “We go again” and where that is, is the San Siro against one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. Let’s back our boys.
