A composite image of Arne Slot and Nuno Espirito Santo. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images and Clive Mason/Getty Images
Former Forest and Liverpool ace Stan Collymore has suggested the Reds could see their title ambitions derailed by Nuno Espirito Santo and his swaggering squad.
The Premier League clubs face off again next Tuesday, and after Forest’s first win at Anfield in decades earlier in the season, Arne Slot will certainly not be taking anything for granted.
Previously, Nuno was hailed as a perfect fit for Forest, and his results have continued to show that he has certainly found a home where his and his team’s goals are aligned.
Nuno Espirito Santo shows his courage at Forest
With Slot sending warnings to his Liverpool side in terms of the individual form of certain players, it seems clear that the Reds have some behind-the-scenes concerns to sort out if they are to continue at the top of the Premier League.
There are, of course, no real concerns at the moment given Liverpool are six points clear of their nearest rivals and could move to nine if they have a game in hand.
However, complacency will become their enemy if teams start to hold them back, and the draw against Man United followed by their Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham showed signs that Slot’s side are not conquerors.
“I’m absolutely delighted that two of my clubs, one that I left to join the other, are going head-to-head in a match that could be huge in terms of a possible title outcome,” Collymore told CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.
“Even though it’s not really a surprise with Liverpool, it is with Forest, and I think what Nuno Espirito Santo is making them do week in, week out is get back to what football is.
“Defend your own half and your own area, get a foothold in the game and then spit teams out.
Can Nuno Espirito Santo outwit Arne Slot again?
“They embarrass all of Pep’s disciples, managers like Russell Martin who thought that by coming in and playing from the back they could do something in the Premier League.
“[…] Nobody predicted this would happen with Forest, and I don’t think anyone would have looked at the group of players they have and said they were going to be anything other than, at best, a mid-table team.
“They might finish mid-table, who knows, but I think being this far into the season and where they are we can say that Nuno has rejuvenated his career.
“[…] There are 1000 ways to skin a cat, and right now Forest is skinning this cat. Their approach has been an absolute pleasure to watch, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they skin the bird to the liver next Tuesday in what is sure to be a cracking game.
With 18 games left this season, there is still plenty of time for the Premier League table to take a completely different shape.
However, Nuno and his Forest side have already proven beyond doubt that they have what it takes to stay the course.
Economical in their desire to attack, the Portuguese clearly chose the path of “genius is simplicity”.
Forest doesn’t try to be something he’s not and does what he does best.
With clear buy-in from players, this absolutely makes them a threat as we enter the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.
