It was supposed to be a statement night at Anfield. Instead, Liverpool Football Club delivered one of its most embarrassing performances in decades — a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Six losses in seven Premier League matches. A team once crowned champions now sitting in the bottom half of the table. And the noise? It’s deafening.
How Did It Come to This?
Just one season ago, Arne Slot, the 46-year-old Dutch tactician, led Liverpool to a stunning 92-point Premier League title. He inherited a squad still reeling from the loss of key players and turned them into a machine. But now? The machine is sputtering. The defense, once the bedrock of their dominance, looks brittle. The midfield, once relentless, looks lost. And the fans? They’re not just frustrated — they’re furious.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, entered Anfield ranked 19th — one spot above the relegation zone. They had cycled through three managers this season: Nuno Espírito Santo, interim Steve Cooper, and now Sha Diggs, the 42-year-old Englishman who’s quietly rebuilding belief. Diggs didn’t just change tactics — he changed the mood. Forest recorded 15 shots at Anfield, a number that should’ve been impossible against a Liverpool side that once dominated possession like a force of nature.
And yet, they scored three times. Two from set-pieces. One from a counterattack that exposed Liverpool’s full-backs like a paper wall. The final whistle didn’t just end the match — it ignited a firestorm.
"Be Calm. Take Your Time."
Enter James David Redknapp, the former Liverpool midfielder turned ESPN pundit. At 57, Redknapp has seen it all — the highs of European glory, the lows of relegation battles. And when asked about Slot’s future, he didn’t flinch.
"Be calm, take your time, make sure you assess," he said on air. "It’s a worrying run of form, yes. But this isn’t just about tactics. It’s about trauma."
He was referring to the death of Portuguese forward Diogo Jota, 28, during the 2025 preseason. Jota wasn’t just a goal-scorer — he was a locker room glue. His sudden passing left a void no transfer window could fill. Slot, in a rare emotional press conference, acknowledged it: "It was the most difficult preseason imaginable for those players."
Redknapp didn’t excuse the results. But he contextualized them. "Arne Slot deserves that after what he did last year. You don’t turn a club upside down and expect perfection overnight."
"We All Need to Look in the Mirror"
After the match, Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s 33-year-old captain and defensive anchor, didn’t hide behind excuses. He stood in front of the cameras, eyes tired but resolute.
"We concede too many easy goals," he admitted. "In the first half an hour we were good. We created chances. But they scored — again — from a set-piece. It’s definitely a problem. I take responsibility. But everyone — starters, subs, staff — we all have to take responsibility."
He didn’t blame the manager. Didn’t blame the new signings. Didn’t blame the fitness coaches. He pointed inward. "We’ve had ups and downs here. We will bounce back. But these things don’t happen overnight."
Van Dijk’s words carried weight. He’s been at Liverpool since 2018. He’s seen Klopp’s rise, the European triumphs, the Premier League crowns. He’s also seen the fallow years before that. He knows the club’s soul better than anyone.
The Financial Trap
Here’s the ugly truth: Fenway Sports Group can’t just fire Slot. Not easily. According to SportBible’s November 23, 2025 report, terminating Slot’s contract would require paying a "huge fee" — one that could easily exceed £30 million. That’s not just a financial burden. It’s a strategic nightmare.
Who replaces him? A high-profile name? They’d demand a salary to match. A caretaker? The team’s morale might collapse further. And with Champions League fixtures against Inter Milan Football Club on December 3 and PSV Eindhoven on December 11, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
"If they do not beat West Ham at the London Stadium, I think Arne Slot will be sacked," said YouTube commentator Henry on the November 22 broadcast. The match against West Ham United Football Club — scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, 2025 — has become a de facto audition.
The Bigger Picture
What makes this collapse so jarring is the contrast. Nottingham Forest, with three managers this season and a defense rebuilt around Nigerian defender Anosa Coglu, now sits just six points behind Liverpool. That’s not a fluke. That’s a systemic failure.
Liverpool’s squad is still loaded: Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Ryan Gravenberch, Malo Gusto — all elite talents. But talent without cohesion is noise. Slot’s system, once fluid and lethal, now looks rigid. The pressing is inconsistent. The transitions are slow. The confidence? Gone.
Yet, history suggests patience can pay off. Remember Pep Guardiola’s first season at Manchester City? They finished fifth. No one called for his head then. They waited. And then came the dominance.
Liverpool isn’t Manchester City. But they’re still Liverpool. And this isn’t the end. It’s a reckoning.
What’s Next?
The next 10 days will define the season. A must-win against West Ham. Then, the Champions League. A loss to West Ham, and the pressure on Slot becomes unbearable. A win, and the narrative shifts — slowly, painfully — toward rebuilding rather than rebuilding.
FSG has to decide: Do they panic? Or do they remember what they built?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Arne Slot still in charge despite such poor results?
Despite the six losses in seven games, Slot led Liverpool to the 2024-2025 Premier League title with 92 points — a remarkable achievement after inheriting a squad in transition. FSG values long-term stability, and his contract termination carries a financial penalty estimated at over £30 million. Many insiders believe the team’s struggles stem from psychological trauma following Diogo Jota’s death, not tactical incompetence.
How has Nottingham Forest improved so dramatically under Sha Diggs?
Sha Diggs, appointed in October 2025, replaced three managers in just five months. He implemented a compact 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasized defensive discipline, and instilled belief through psychological support. The signing of defender Anosa Coglu before Nuno Espírito Santo’s departure proved pivotal — Forest’s goals conceded per game dropped from 2.1 to 1.0 under Diggs. Their 3-0 win at Anfield was their first away victory against a top-six team since 2018.
What role did Diogo Jota’s death play in Liverpool’s collapse?
Jota’s sudden passing during preseason devastated the squad emotionally. He was a vocal leader, a clutch finisher, and a bridge between veterans and young players. Slot admitted the team struggled to focus during pre-season training. While no one is using it as an excuse, multiple sources confirm players still wear Jota’s jersey number in training as a tribute — and the emotional toll has visibly affected their on-field composure, especially in high-pressure moments.
Is Virgil van Dijk’s leadership enough to turn things around?
Van Dijk’s accountability is crucial, but leadership alone can’t fix systemic issues. He’s 33, and while still elite defensively, his mobility has declined. Liverpool’s midfield lacks energy, and their full-backs are exposed. The team needs tactical adjustments — not just morale boosts. Van Dijk can inspire, but he can’t single-handedly solve the pressing, transition, and set-piece failures that have defined this season.
What happens if Liverpool loses to West Ham on November 27?
A loss would likely trigger immediate calls for Slot’s dismissal, even if FSG delays action. Fan protests could escalate, sponsors might pressure ownership, and media scrutiny would intensify. With Champions League games looming, a defeat would make it nearly impossible to maintain focus on Europe. Many analysts believe FSG would then pivot to a caretaker manager — possibly former assistant Pepijn Lijnders — to stabilize the team before a long-term appointment in January.
Could this be the start of a new era for Liverpool?
Possibly. This crisis could force FSG to rethink their entire model — from recruitment to youth integration. The club has invested heavily in aging stars like Salah and Van Dijk. If Slot is eventually replaced, the next manager may be tasked with rebuilding around younger talents like Kaide Gordon and Curtis Jones. This isn’t just about one coach — it’s about whether Liverpool still believes in long-term vision over short-term noise.
