Nottingham Forest are having an outstanding season and remain the only team to have beaten Liverpool in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign.
Not that Arne Slot has forgotten about it.
Since Forest’s 1-0 victory at Anfield in September—secured by Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal—the result has clearly lingered in the mind of the Liverpool manager, who is on track to win the Premier League in his debut season in England.
Slot has repeatedly referenced that loss, including at the end of 2024 when he acknowledged that Forest were the only side in England or the Netherlands to have defeated his team throughout the year—something that still seems to frustrate him.
Even during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at the City Ground in January, Forest supporters took every opportunity to remind Slot of the earlier defeat, though he did later praise one of their players.
Now, after receiving a two-match touchline ban from the FA, Slot has once again brought up Forest—this time as part of his defense.
Slot Brings Up Forest’s 2024 Incident in FA Appeal
Complaints about refereeing decisions have become increasingly common among managers, coaches, and players, and Forest themselves are no exception.
Slot’s recent ban stems from his conduct during a 2-2 draw against Everton, where Liverpool conceded a late equalizer. The Dutchman was sent off by referee Michael Oliver for using foul and abusive language, leading to his two-match suspension.
According to the Daily Mail, Slot referenced a similar incident involving former Forest coach Steven Reid during last season’s clash with Liverpool. Reid had criticized referee Paul Tierney for misapplying the rules, which resulted in a last-minute Liverpool winner. As a consequence, Reid was handed a two-match ban and a substantial fine, a decision that Forest ultimately had to accept.
Rising Abuse of Match Officials a Growing Concern
Verbal abuse towards referees is an escalating issue in football, and there seems to be little progress in curbing the trend.
The problem extends beyond professional football. When high-profile managers like Slot and Nuno Espírito Santo openly question officials, it sets a poor example for young players at grassroots levels, who then emulate such behavior in their own games.
Match officials deserve respect, yet the way top-level players and coaches speak to them often makes it remarkable that referees manage to stay composed on the pitch.
According to BBC Sport, assaults on referees at grassroots level increased by 32% last year—a worrying statistic that must be addressed.
If this trend continues, figures like Slot need to reflect on their actions. The constant complaints, accusations of bias, and hostility towards officials after every defeat must come to an end.
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