Alan Shearer says that Nottingham Forest's victory at Liverpool was "no fluke" after the visitors ran out shock 1-0 winners at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds had headed into the game as firm favorites following three wins from three to start the 2024-25 campaign, yet it was Callum Hudson-Odoi's second-half strike which proved to be the difference as Nuno Espirito Santo's side claimed all three points.
It meant the end to Liverpool's 100 percent start to the campaign and Arne Slot's first defeat as manager, although the hosts did little to deserve all three points with a lackluster performance.
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And Shearer has claimed that Forest was fully deserving of the win, praising the East Midlands outfit for the way in which it controlled the game and stopped Liverpool in its tracks - earning its first victory at Anfield since 1969.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live after the game, Shearer said: "Nottingham Forest were outstanding. The way they defended as a team was magnificent and this was no fluke. They stopped Liverpool every time they got into the box. Then they went and hit them on the break, what a finish from Callum Hudson-Odoi. What a start to the season they've had."
Forest maintained its unbeaten start to the season while subsequently ending Liverpool's, although it's fair to say there was a slight bit of fortune in the goal. While Hudson-Odoi unleashed an impressive strike, his goal could have easily been prevented.
Alisson was arguably blindsided as the former Chelsea man struck the ball, with Ibrahima Konate doing his best to block the attempt, although the Brazilian was also at fault for assuming the shot was going wide as it whistled past him into the net.
Regardless, Liverpool didn't do enough to even draw the game, let alone win it, and Slot will be sure to put in plenty of work on the training ground in an attempt to iron out today's issues that led to his side's first defeat of the campaign.
If Liverpool want to be challenging on all fronts this season, in particular the Premier League, then it has to be beating sides like Forest, at home. Failure to do so on a frequent basis throughout the season will risk the Reds slipping away in the title race.
Manchester City have already gone three points clear after just four games, having come from behind against Brentford to win 2-1. While the reigning champions also didn't play their best, they found a way to win, and this is what Liverpool must also do if it wants to maintain pace with the very best.
