Arne Slot delivers ruthless assessment of Liverpool players ahead of AC Milan game

Arne Slot insisted Liverpool suffered from too many players failing to reach their “best level” in the team's shock defeat to Nottingham Forest .

The Reds headed into the Anfield contest as firm favorites following three wins from three to start the Premier League season. However, a sub-standard performance unfolded and a second-half strike from Callum Hudson-Odoi was enough to earn Forest an unlikely 1-0 victory .

The result left fans and pundits frustrated, but there were bound to be growing pains under Slot . Liverpool had looked sensational in its opening three games, securing nine points without conceding a single game before the international break.

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But Liverpool looked all out of sorts as it suffered the first loss of the Slot era. The likes of Mohamed Salah , Trent Alexander-Arnold , and Dominik Szoboszlai all struggled to even play the simplest of passes at times, and the Dutchman has called on his players to respond.

When asked if squad rotation was the reason behind the dismal performance, Slot told reporters: "If rotation is why we don't win then the first game I lost in 2024 wouldn't be last Saturday. Everyone can have their own opinion but it is too simple to put it down to rotation, but too many players are not at their best level.

"Forest made it difficult for us and when you don't win you look at as many arguments as you can. I prefer to see the game back and what we didn't do well and some of it was not related to rotation. We will never know if we would have won if rotated.

"Someone asked me about how many players started for national teams, now I can do something about rotation as they are all with me but before that, they were with their national teams. We try to prepare them for that, we didn't lose because of rotation, too many players didn't do what they can."

Ultimately, Liverpool has the opportunity to put things right will come quickly as the Reds prepare to face AC Milan in the first round of the revamped UEFA Champions League format this week. Slot's outfit heads to San Siro on Tuesday, and captain Virgil Van Dijk is confident the team can find momentum .

“Hopefully if there are no injuries happening then rhythm is always a good thing,” Van Dijk said. “We need the whole squad and we know after the international break it will be a game every three days so we need everyone in their best shape and best form. Now we go home and the recovery session starts: treatment, ice bath, sauna and swimming pool in order to do everything possible to be ready for Tuesday.

“And then it's on and on and on so that's the sacrifice we take, he continued, as he revealed his mindset as he vowed to put the Forest loss behind him. I am definitely looking forward to Tuesday but I am disappointed we didn't put in a performance today. We are much better than we showed today.”