At Anfield, Liverpool Lost Its Soul

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY — At Anfield Stadium, it was as if only the physical presence of the Liverpool squad was there to face Nottingham Forest. The spirit of Mohamed Salah and his teammates, which is always fiery and never extinguished when playing in front of their home supporters, seemed to have vanished. Liverpool is experiencing an identity crisis.

The defending champions' fortunes haven't improved since the international break. Arne Slot's team was humiliated by Forest in a 0-3 defeat at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, on Saturday (November 22, 2025) WIB. For the first time since 1965, according to OptaJoe data, the Reds have lost two consecutive Premier League games by a three-goal margin.

"I did not expect it, but it happened," said captain Forest Morgan Gibbs-White regarding the victory at Liverpool's home ground. "We felt comfortable even though we did not have much possession of the ball. Our defense was solid, and that is a credit to the players and the coach (Sean Dyche). This victory feels amazing," he continued.

In the last 56 years, Forest has only managed to win twice at Anfield. All of those victories were achieved in the last two seasons. Forest has essentially only repeated the achievement of the previous season. Interestingly, the comparison of the situations in the two matches is very different, even though both ended with three points.

Last season, Forest was quite fortunate. They won 1-0 thanks to a decisive goal in the 72nd minute from substitute player Callum Hudson-Odoi after being pressured throughout the match. Unlike the previous duel, the visiting team took the lead and maintained control since the first half. Forest rendered Liverpool's ball possession meaningless.

Liverpool often falls behind first at Anfield. However, usually, this situation serves as a catalyst for a more aggressive performance. This was not the case this time. They actually lost momentum after the halftime break. It was evident, as the home team conceded a second goal just under a minute into the second half.

We weren't good at dueling, fighting, and rushing things. The situation was very difficult.

The goal from wing-back Forest Nicolo Savona highlighted the poor defensive coordination of Liverpool. The players of "The Reds" failed to anticipate the off-the-ball movement on the right side and in the penalty area. Additionally, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who lost the duel in the penalty box, was also a primary cause of the goal.

According to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, his team conceded too many easy goals. In the first goal, Forest defender Murillo also easily scored against Allison Becker through a scramble from a corner kick scheme. "We were not good in duels, fighting, and we were too hasty. The situation is quite difficult," he stated.

The Liverpool squad appeared frustrated after falling behind by two goals. They lost their attacking rhythm as the visiting team comfortably defended with a very low defensive line. In the first 35 minutes of the second half, Forest's attacks were actually more dangerous compared to Liverpool, with a shot count advantage of 9-5.

In the last 15 minutes, Liverpool seemed to have given up. Their spirit was completely absent during the third goal by Forest. Three Liverpool players were confused in stopping the movement of the opposing substitute player, Omari Hutchinson. This action resulted in a scramble in front of the goal, leading to a goal from Gibbs-White's foot.

"Everyone is disappointed, as it should be, because losing to Forest at home is very bad for me. We also conceded goals too easily. We need to reflect. Everyone in the team must take responsibility. We will rise again, but that will not happen overnight," emphasized Van Dijk.

Liverpool played without midfielder Florian Wirtz, who is injured. However, they were still reinforced by star players such as Salah and Alexander Isak. The problem is that the attackers of "The Reds" were also unable to do much. Isak was substituted in the 68th minute after only producing one shot that was off target.

For Liverpool, the match should serve as a moment for revival following their 0-3 defeat to Manchester City just before the international break. Forest, currently in 16th place, is undergoing a transitional phase. The visiting team has changed coaches twice in the last two months. Dyche took over the team at the end of October.

The slot is now engulfed in a larger set of problems. Liverpool has currently experienced six defeats out of 12 league matches. Not only are they struggling to defend their title, but they have also fallen out of the top ten rankings. Furthermore, Liverpool has only won once in their last seven league games.

Slot accepts criticism with an open heart. "Whether something is good or bad, it is always my responsibility. I try to fix some things that are not going well. We have quality players. My job is to bring out their best potential. At the moment, I am not doing that. That is my responsibility," he stated. (AP/REUTERS)