NOTTINGHAM, England – Arne Slot is no stranger to being serenaded on the sidelines. Revered at his former club Feyenoord Rotterdam, Liverpool’s head coach has quickly become accustomed to hearing fans singing their praises from the stands at Anfield – and in away games across the country – as his team so expertly defeats almost everyone in front of them has .

But on Tuesday night it was Nottingham Forest fans who made Slot the subject of their attention as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side struggled to halt their visitors’ march towards the Premier League title and beat Liverpool to a 1-pointer at the City Ground :1 draw.

“Arne Slot, it’s that time again!” cheered the Forest fans after Chris Wood scored his 13th league goal of the season and gave the hosts the lead within eight minutes. In fact, for more than an hour it looked as if Forest would inflict only Liverpool’s second league defeat of the season, having also dispatched Slot’s men at Anfield in September.

The fact that Liverpool secured a valuable point with a header from Diogo Jota in the 66th minute is a testament to the character and quality of the Reds. However, Tuesday night’s epic at the City Ground provided further evidence – if needed – that there are many more twists and turns to come in this title race.

Had this game been tipped as a potential title decider on the eve of this Premier League season, few would have been inclined to take notice. After all, Forest finished last season in 17th place, just six points outside the relegation zone.

That’s why September’s surprise triumph at Anfield caused such a stir, with even Slot himself admitting that Liverpool’s winners that day “don’t normally finish in the top 10”. But that win proved to be more than just a flash in the pan as Forest continued to impress and, despite all expectations, climbed to second place in the table.

A win against the league leaders on Tuesday would have seen Forest move within three points of the top spot and perhaps that prospect weighed heavily on the minds of Slot’s players as they toiled on the banks of the River Trent.

Admittedly, it hasn’t been a particularly happy new year for Liverpool. After saying goodbye to 2024 with a clear win against youngsters West Ham United, cracks in the Reds’ previously impenetrable armor began to appear in the first two weeks of 2025.

Liverpool’s 4-0 win over second division side Accrington Stanley at the weekend was their first win since the turn of the year, following a thrilling draw against Manchester United in the league and a narrow defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Against Forest, all early signs seemed to suggest that Liverpool were slipping into a bit of a crisis, as a combination of poor decision-making and erratic finishing meant Slot’s side went into the break without registering a single shot on target.

Liverpool improved slightly after the break, but it was only when Slot sat on the bench that his team made their breakthrough. The substitution of Jota and Kostas Tsimikas in place of Ibrahima Konaté and Andy Robertson proved to be a masterstroke as Liverpool were level just 22 seconds after the substitution; Jota headed home from a corner from Tsimikas.

After that, Slot’s side seemed to have regained some of the swagger that has characterized much of their season so far, with only the interventions of a brilliant goal from Matz Sels at Forest and some admirable defending in the last attempt keeping Liverpool at bay.

“I couldn’t have asked for more today,” Slot admitted in his post-match press conference. “I think most people would speak really positively about the second half, but when you play on this ground against a team who are in such good form, who barely concede a chance in every single game and threaten so many counter-attacks. “. We only conceded one counter-attack in 98 minutes of football today.

While those in favor of Forest may disagree with Slot’s claim, Liverpool’s second-half performance at least ensures they maintain their six-point lead at the top of the table. The league leaders no longer appear to be infallible, but a look at the rest of Tuesday night’s results is irrefutable evidence that they don’t have to be.

Both Manchester City and Chelsea have dropped points, while Arsenal, who face arch-rivals Tottenham on Wednesday, have also looked far from their best in recent weeks, with striker Gabriel Jesus now on the sidelines alongside struggling talisman Bukayo Saka stands.

Forest, of course, remain a threat after proving on Tuesday that they are capable of competing with the best.

“I don’t think they’re here out of luck,” Slot admitted. “It’s difficult for any team to play against. They’ve already had some difficult away games, against United, City, Arsenal, us. This shows that they are a team that can compete at the top of the league.” “

But while Forest and Co. will continue to apply pressure, Liverpool will simply have to try to keep their head. It may not be the title fight that seemed to be on the horizon just a few weeks ago, but for now at least, Slot’s squad remains firmly in the driver’s seat.