Liverpool must show response against Forest to regain control of their season | OneFootball

Liverpool return from the international break facing what feels like a decisive point in their season.

Their heavy 3-0 defeat at Manchester City before the international break did more than widen the gap to the top of the Premier League.

It exposed the reality that their title defence is already slipping away and raised fresh questions about where they are actually headed.

Whether they are capable of reasserting themselves in the European places or risk drifting towards the wrong end of the table will become clearer from this weekend onwards.

Saturday’s home match against Nottingham Forest has significance beyond the usual post-break fixture.

Liverpool have been reliable at Anfield under manager Arne Slot, yet their broader form has fluctuated enough to make this a test of their ability to steady themselves.

The manner of the loss at City also lingers. Liverpool were outplayed for long spells and could not match City’s physical intensity or attacking clarity.

Forest’s recent improvement only sharpens the challenge. Sean Dyche’s side struggled through the early weeks of the season but now appear far more robust, organised and confident.

They have lost only one of their last five matches in all competitions and arrive at Anfield with an approach that has started to generate results.

Their ability to take four points off Liverpool last season will also reinforce the belief that they can push them hard again. Nothing in their current form suggests they will leave anything to chance.

Slot spent much of his pre-match press conference discussing injuries, confirming that Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz have muscle problems. He said the situation was ‘far from ideal’.

Jeremie Frimpong is also out, although Alisson should return if he comes through training.

Liverpool need a statement performance to show they are ready to turn a corner. This is the point where their season’s direction becomes clearer, and they cannot afford another misstep.