A stunning second-half goal from substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi gave Nottingham Forest their biggest surprise of the Premier League season on Saturday as they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield.

It was Forest’s first win at Anfield since 1969 and the players and away fans celebrated with gusto, while the home crowd mourned the Reds’ lacklustre performance.

Liverpool dominated the first half and Luis Díaz nearly made the breakthrough in the 17th minute, trying to keep the ball in play on the Forest goal line and cutting inside before firing a powerful shot at the near post.

Two minutes later, Mohamed Salah provided a superb cross with the outside of his left boot for Dominik Szoboszlai, but his header went just wide as Liverpool piled on the pressure.

In reality, however, Salah was well contained by Forest defender Álex Moreno, who was tireless in his pursuit of the Egypt international until he was substituted in the closing stages.

Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot must have suspected it wasn’t going to be his day when Forest keeper Matz Sels impressed late in the first half, saving a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner that almost went under the bar and then making a fine save from Carlos Mac Allister’s header a minute later.

Selz nearly gave Liverpool the lead before half-time when Díaz threw a header into the air and the keeper nearly curled the ball into his own net, but he was just able to pick it up and avert the danger.

Despite all the chances Liverpool’s attackers created in the first half, they were often on different wavelengths and their usual game lacked fluidity, resulting in chances being missed.

Their wastefulness was punished in the 72nd minute when Anthony Elanga found his colleague Hudson-Odoi with a superb crossfield ball. The 23-year-old winger cut inside and curled a superb effort past goalkeeper Alisson.

After winning their first three league games without conceding a goal under Arne Slot, Liverpool seemed short of ideas as they tried to bounce back. Virgil van Dijk’s header from a corner that flew wide came closest to equalising.

Ranger Nuno Espirito Santo had a solid game tactically, but it was his inspired substitutions that gave his team victory.

“Callum (Hudson-Odoi) and I talked about it on the bench. If we got in, we would make the difference,” said Swedish winger Elanga.

“We came here to Liverpool and there are not many teams that can beat them and play like us and we were rewarded for that in the end.”

Liverpool keeper Alisson was unimpressed with Forest’s defensive game plan but acknowledged it was highly effective.

“It was bad defensively from us. We couldn’t create much, we lacked quality today, we needed more energy. It’s three points that we lost unnecessarily today,” he said.