Arne Slot told key Liverpool star has ‘completely disappe...

Arne Slot told key Liverpool star has ‘completely disappeared’ following Nottingham Forest defeat

Tom Olver Published November 23, 2025 9:40am Updated November 23, 2025 9:40am Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - Premier League

Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - Premier League

Liverpool slumped to their sixth defeat of the season at home to Nottingham Forest (Picture: Getty)

Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol singled out Ryan Gravenberch for criticism following the side’s humbling 3-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest, accusing the midfielder of ‘completely disappearing’ this season.

The Premier League champions entered Saturday’s contest in desperate need of a morale-boosting victory following a heavy defeat away to Manchester City before the international break.

But it proved another limp and disjointed display from Arne Slot’s men, with Murillo and Nicola Savona scoring either side of half-time to give the visitors a two-goal advantage at Anfield.

The Reds provided next to nothing by way of a response and were deservedly punished in the 78th minute as Morgan Gibbs-White struck to put the game to bed.

Liverpool’s latest setback, their sixth defeat of the top-flight campaign, leaves the club languishing down in 11th place in the table, 18 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.

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Another largely anonymous showing from record signing Alexander Isak will be a major worry for Slot, but there were disappointing individual performances throughout the Dutchman’s starting XI on Merseyside.

Mohamed Salah was alone in providing any real threat for the hosts, while Gravenberch, not for the first time in recent weeks, appeared a shadow of the player he was last season.

Gravenberch has ‘disappeared’ this season, says Nicol (Picture: Getty)

Nicol told Liverpool to get back to basics after their latest setback (Picture: ESPN)

‘There’s one guy who has escaped criticism so far… Ryan Gravenberch,’ Nicol said on ESPN’s coverage.

‘This is a guy who, no question, after Mohamed Salah and maybe Virgil van Dijk was Liverpool’s best player last year, no question.

‘He was in the right place all the time, he made great decisions, he started attacks.

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‘His main job is to be that block, that guy in front of the back four who orders the other two around, lets them go forward when they can and he fills in behind and covers the holes.

‘He’s done none of that this year. I know he’s missed a couple of games but he absolutely has done none of that.

‘Craig [Burley] spoke earlier about how Salah has disappeared and Van Dijk, what’s going on here? Gravenberch is another one who, as fantastic as he was last year, has completely disappeared again.’

The Reds find themselves languishing down in 11th (Picture: Getty)

According to Nicol, Slot must get back to basics and ensure his players are putting in the hard yards with ‘boring drills’ on the training ground.

‘Amongst all the problems they have, there’s one place that they undoubtedly have to start and fix and that’s the back four,’ Nicol, a four-time league winner with Liverpool, added.

‘You see what Liverpool did in the first 30 minutes, Forest never got out and then they get out once, end up scoring.

Murillo broke the deadlock at Anfield (Picture: Getty)

‘From that point onwards, Liverpool’s mentality just crumbled and Igor Jesus should have had a goal two minutes later. From there, it could have been four or five by the end of the game.

‘You cannot lose three goals at home and beat anybody.

‘Two weeks ago, Forest were relegation fodder and they’ve just beaten Liverpool at Anfield. Does that say more about Forest or does that say more about Liverpool?

‘In terms of Liverpool, he has to get them on the training field and doing drills, boring drills.’

Speaking to Sky Sports shortly after the final whistle, Slot admitted his side were in the middle of a ‘very bad spell’ and took full responsibility for the defeat.

‘If things go well or things go bad, it’s always my responsibility,’ the Liverpool head coach said.

‘We weren’t able to create enough. I tried to adjust a few things that didn’t really work out. We weren’t able to score a goal.

‘We are in a very bad spell. It’s that simple. We also know in a few days we play Champions League. Keep our heads up, work incredibly hard, and try to turn things around.

‘It’s my job to get the best out of them. I am not at the moment. That’s why I say it’s my responsibility.’

Liverpool will look to get back to winning ways against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Slot’s men return to Premier League action four days later with a trip to the capital to face West Ham.

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