Dominik Szoboszlai faces criticism after Arne Slot tactic - 'Not a natural'

Liverpool performed abysmally across the board in the first half against Nottingham Forest, with Dominik Szoboszlai among those to look uncomfortable at the City Ground

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Dominik Szoboszlai was among a number of Liverpool players to look uncomfortable as Arne Slot's side desperately struggled against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Liverpool, knowing that Chelsea dropped points against Burnley on Saturday, could have made ground up on the Champions League spots with a win. However, Vitor Pereira's team was well on top in the first half and peppering shots in the direction of Alisson Becker's goal.

Florian Wirtz was due to start but dropped out at the last minute thanks to an injury. Curtis Jones came into midfield initially before he moved to right-back to replace Szoboszlai, with both looking out of sorts.

"Staggeringly sloppy from Liverpool," BBC pundit Pat Nevin said on 5Live during the opening 45 minutes. "They gave the ball away three times in their own half.

"You can't play lazily in your own half. Dominik Szoboszlai is not a natural full-back and he gets caught out. That should be 1-0 Nottingham Forest."

Center-back Ibrahima Konate did well enough in the main but most other Liverpool players really toiled. After a week without a game, the Reds looked very much like they were lacking rhythm.