Arne Slot slammed Liverpool's performance after their perfect start to his reign came crashing to a halt with Saturday's surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest.
Callum Hudson-Odoi's deflected second-half strike proved decisive as Forest earned their first league victory at Anfield in 55 years, having last triumphed on the ground against Bill Shankly's Reds in 1969.
Liverpool's 14 shots throughout the game gave them a total expected goals (xG) figure of just 0.87, with only five of those attempts forcing Matz Sels into action.
The Reds boasted a 69.6% possession share but only marginally beat Forest's 56 final-third entries with 70 of their own, leaving Slot to bemoan their lethargic play in possession.
"The result frustrates me the most and we cannot be happy about how the game went. It was a stop-start game and we hardly created any chances," Slot told BBC Sport.
"We only have to look at ourselves, we have to be better. Far too many times we lost the ball around the area, it was not good enough. We have to be better with the ball.
"Our decisions and execution weren't good enough.
"In general, we defended quite well but the two fast players came on and made it difficult for us. We took a lot of risks and in the end it was a very good goal."
Liverpool have now lost two of their last five Premier League matches at Anfield (three wins), having only lost one of their previous 58 before this run.
Forest, meanwhile, have won four straight away Premier League matches for the first time since 1995, and they sit just one point behind Liverpool in the early-season standings.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo was delighted with their defensive work, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: "Liverpool are such a good team, it required a lot of effort from the players... the organisation, tackling and the covering.
"The only way to achieve anything here is if you are organised and do everything that you can.
"When you start the way we started with our wingers, Nico Dominguez and Elliot Anderson – all the effort of them tracking Liverpool's full-backs, it is a lot of energy.
"We are working hard and it is about building and believing in this idea that you can develop."
Aston Villa 3-2 Everton: Duran screamer completes comeback for hosts
Jhon Duran’s screamer and Ollie Watkins’ brace completed a stunning comeback for Aston Villa as they fought back to beat Everton 3-2 at Villa Park.
Everton remain without a point in the Premier League this season, despite having gone two goals up in back-to-back matches. Dwight McNeil gave Everton the lead against the run of play on 16 minutes, before turning provider for Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header 11 minutes later.
The deficit awakened a previously struggling Watkins, who pulled one back before half-time by nodding home a Lucas Digne cross from close range. Watkins added to his tally after the break, tapping in after a mistake from Jack Harrison.
Duran played super-sub yet again, entering the pitch on 69 minutes before firing Villa into the lead seven minutes later with a blistering strike from 30 yards out.
Calvert-Lewin nearly levelled soon after to spoil the party but his shot bounced back off the crossbar.
The victory lifts Villa into third place, only behind Liverpool on goal difference. Everton, meanwhile, remain stuck to the bottom having lost four out of four in the Premier League.
Data Debrief
Everton are now only the second side in Premier League history to lose back-to-back games after leading by two or more goals in both. The other side was their opponents in the last match - Bournemouth (October/November 2022).
It marked the sixth time that Aston Villa have come back from two or more goals in the Premier League.
Now, after just four games of the season, Duran has scored three winners from the bench. No player has scored more winners as a substitute in a single Premier League campaign.
Cooper seeking answers from Premier League after Mateta sucker punch
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper wants the Premier League to provide clear evidence as to why Jean Philippe Mateta's first goal was given in their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
Mateta netted a brace to deny Leicester their first win of the season, but his first goal was originally flagged as offside before it was overturned after a VAR review.
Cooper's side had performed brilliantly to take a two-goal advantage up to that point, with goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi putting them in a comfortable position.
However, the Leicester boss was left with a sour taste in his mouth, confirming he wants greater clarity on why Palace's first goal was awarded.
"I really want to see the image that says that was definitely onside because at the moment we have a few questions to ask of the Premier League," Cooper said.
He wanted to take the positives from the encounter, but could not deny that the late Mateta equaliser from the penalty spot was a painful one to take.
"There's definitely loads of good in the game, but if I'm being honest, it feels like a loss," Cooper added.
"Sometimes a point away from home ends up being really important, it might not feel like it at the moment, but it might be.
"We just needed to manage those moments after going 2-0 up, which we didn't quite do."
Palace boss Oliver Glasner was also disappointed to only pick up a point but praised their character after coming back from two goals down to avoid a third loss in their opening four league matches.
Glasner said: "We are not happy with the point, but I'm really pleased and delighted with the spirit and the character of the players again.
"With the great support from the stand, we had a very good belief today, and with a great impact also from our subs, and let's say all this together, keeping the belief, having a great support from the stand, and having a good impact from our subs. Then we came back. I think it's a compliment for the team for this comeback."
The Austrian was also pleased with his two debutants, Maxence Lacroix and Eddie Nketiah, with both featuring for the entirety of the match.
“Maxence was solid, and also we could see that it was his first competitive game for a very long time in some parts, but he was solid," said Glasner.
"Eddie showed what he showed during training, what we expected from him: he always can threaten the goals.
"He was a little bit unlucky with the two or three finishes he had, but he had good movements, and also before the very important penalty, he made this run and blocked the defender."
Rodgers pleased with Engles debut as Celtic continue perfect start
Brendan Rodgers was encouraged by Arne Engels' debut after he scored from the penalty spot to continue Celtic's perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season with a 2-0 victory over Hearts.
After dominating the opening exchanges, the hosts were offered the chance to take the lead from 12 yards early in the second half.
Nicolas Kuhn's cross was blocked by the hand of James Penrice, with Engels making no mistake from the spot to net his first Celtic goal since his switch from Augsburg.
Luke McCowan confirmed the triumph in the 89th minute, also scoring his first goal for the club, with Rodgers pleased with the pair, but showering particular praise on Engels.
"He's here playing in the eight position," Rodgers said. "He's here with legs and energy and power, he should be able to score goals for us. A good performance from him."
But the encounter could have taken on a much different complexion after the visitors were awarded a penalty of their own in the first half.
Lawrence Shankland's header came off Liam Scales' arm, only for VAR to overturn the decision, and Rodgers believed the right call was eventually made.
"When the referee gives it, it’s always going to be looked at," Rodgers said.
"The ball hits Liam Scales up towards the shoulder on that sleeve part and that’s not a penalty. By the rule, the officials were correct."
Rodgers' side are top of the table with 15 points, ahead of Aberdeen on goal difference, and return to Champions League action on Wednesday when they welcome Slovan Bratislava to Celtic Park in their opening match of the competition.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
