Arne Slot sends paramount message to Liverpool squad: ‘Go out and prove it’ ahead of Forest showdown
Arne Slot has issued a passionate message to his Liverpool squad as they restart their campaign with a home showdown against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.
The 47-year-old has spent nearly two weeks reflecting on the 3–0 defeat to Manchester City before the international break, but today marks the start of a relentless four-month run that will shape Liverpool’s season.
Both sides arrive at Anfield far below their positions from last year. The defending champions start the day in eighth place, while Forest — who finished seventh in 2024/25 — sit second from bottom and are already on their third manager of the season.
Slot challenges Liverpool to ‘go and prove’ themselves
Despite Forest’s difficult start, Slot knows they can be dangerous under new manager Sean Dyche. It was Forest who handed him the first defeat of his Liverpool tenure at Anfield 14 months ago.
Writing in his programme notes, Slot said:
“This is what the Premier League is like. In other countries you sometimes look at teams near the bottom and think they’re easier to face, but that’s not the case in England.
“Forest were seventh just months ago with 65 points and even won at Anfield, so we understand they’re capable of far more than their current league position shows.
“The same goes for us — but saying it isn’t enough. We have to show it on the pitch.”
Forest arrive with nothing to lose
Under normal circumstances, a home game against the team in 19th place would suggest a straightforward victory. But nothing about Liverpool’s season so far has been straightforward.
Dyche wasn’t in the dugout for Forest’s win at Anfield last season, but his personal record at the ground is strong — two draws with Burnley and a famous 1–0 win in January 2021, Liverpool’s first home Premier League defeat in nearly four years.
He has also made an impressive start since replacing Ange Postecoglou, claiming convincing wins over Porto and Leeds and drawing with an in-form Manchester United.
Forest will likely try to turn the contest into a battle, knowing the pressure is all on Liverpool. And although pundits on The Overlap offered mixed predictions this week, the champions simply have to secure three points today, with full respect to the visitors.
That challenge becomes tougher with injuries ruling out Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley, but if Liverpool can calm the Anfield nerves with an early goal, their superior quality should eventually tell — and allow them to wrap up a third home win in November.