Read Arne Slot’s programme notes ahead of Nottingham Forest clash

The Reds return from the international break and aim to build on their flawless start to the 2024/25 season, where they won their first three matches without conceding a goal.

   Still, Slot believes there is still room for improvement in some areas – and knows the seven-match series in three different competitions over the next three weeks will test his squad.

   The head coach wrote: “This is our first game after the international break so the aim is to pick up where we left off as we enter a period of the season that we know will be more intense than the last.

   “Up to this point we have played one game every week and from now on we will have a game almost every three days so we have to be ready for that as the challenges are coming thick and fast.

   “As a team and staff we have to be ready for what’s coming. Today we have the Premier League, midweek we play the Champions League, then we have the Premier League again and then there’s the Carabao Cup it’s all in an 11-day race so it’s a big challenge,  but also exciting.

   “It’s a big positive to go into this period having started the season well. Apart from the first half against Ipswich Town on the opening day, our football has been good and the rewards we’ve won have been deserved.

   “Our first goal was to take as many points as possible in the first three games and we managed to do that. At the same time, neither I nor anyone else connected with the first team believes that we did that well, there is no room for improvement,  in fact, the opposite is true.

   “This is not to temper the enthusiasm or reduce expectations – we want our fans to believe in what we are doing and have hope based on what they see from the team. But at the same time we have a shared responsibility to find areas for improvement there,  where they exist, and that will always be our approach, whether the results are good, bad or indifferent.

   “The team received a lot of praise after our win against Manchester United and a lot of it was deserved, but as much as we recognize the things we did well, we also know there are some areas where we could be better. Kick-off  was difficult, for example, and we also had some moments where Alisson [Becker] had to make really good saves.

   “Again, highlighting these issues is not to diminish the result or the performance. If we can be good – and we certainly were good at Old Trafford – but we still know we can be better, then it’s not a bad position to be in.

   “To put it as simply as possible – we’ve started well, but we still have a lot to prove.

   “I would like to welcome Nuno Espirito Santo and the staff, players and officials of Nottingham Forest to Anfield. Of course, we are aware that Forest themselves have started the season well and will go into this game unbeaten, so we must be prepared for the type of challenge that the team will provide  at this moment.

   “They also won two of their last three games last season so it’s clear that Nuno adds consistency to their game and also to their results. Forest are hard to beat and will be hard to beat. I’m sure their ambitions for this season will be  to improve the previous one as much as possible, so for all these reasons we expect a tough opponent.

   “Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Ron Yeats on behalf of all Liverpool staff and players.

   “I haven’t been at the club too long and I know Ron has been ill for a while so I’ve never been lucky enough to meet him but from the stories I’ve heard and read it’s clear he was and always will be a legend in  history of Liverpool FC.

   “It’s always a privilege to follow players and coaches who set the standard. It’s also a responsibility we all take very seriously.

   “But more than anything else, our thoughts are with Ron’s family, friends and former teammates.”