Slot thirsts for revenge over season's surprise package

Arne Slot's disappointment was exacerbated by the identity of Liverpool's conquerors. "Normally this team is not ending up in the top 10," he said after what, four months on, remains his only defeat at Anfield.

- RICHARD JOLLY

It is safe to say Slot did not see Nottingham Forest's title challenge coming. Then again, neither did anyone else. A reunion comes with Forest not merely in the top 10, but the top three. "Looking back at it and seeing where they are in the league it has not been such a shock result as I thought it was back then," smiled Slot.

So Forest against Liverpool has become a throwback fixture. Slot cited the five consecutive seasons in the 1970s and 1980s when first Bob Paisley's Liverpool then Brian Clough's Forest and then Liverpool again won the old European Cup. Forest's 1979 triumph came after knocking out the holders, Liverpool. Now there is a genuine prospect they could be rubbing shoulders in the Champions League next season.

Which strikes some as a footballing fairytale. Slot might demur. Forest's rise has been fast but not cheap. "It's still an unbelievable accomplishment for them to be top three at the moment, but if you look at the amount of money they have spent it is not a complete surprise that they have a better season than two or three years ago," he said.

He drew a distinction with his AZ Alkmaar side who were level on points with Ajax when Covid curtailed the 2019-20 Eredivisie season. Forest came from further down the pyramid but were propelled upwards by rather greater resources.