If there is one game that has stuck with Arne Slot more than others, it has to be Liverpool’s defeat to Nottingham Forest back in September.

Up until last week’s loss at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, it was the one blot on the Dutchman’s copybook since making the move to Anfield. It has clearly weighed on his mind somewhat, given he has mentioned it on a number of occasions when discussing his side’s otherwise exemplary form this season.

Slot will therefore be looking for some revenge tomorrow night as the Reds head to the City Ground, only few would have expected the game to be a top-of-the-table clash, even after Forest’s win at Anfield.

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That result, courtesy of Callum Hudson-Odoi’s 72nd-minute goal, came as a shock at the time, although it has increasingly looked less of a fluke as Forest has propelled itself up the table. Far from being surprised with the result though, there was one element of that defeat that didn’t sit well with Slot.

“There were not that many things that we did well during that game,” said the Dutchman. “What I mostly disliked was the fact in the last 20-25 minutes I didn't see something happening.

“So things can go against you in a game but then you want to see a few players stepping up and saying, ‘enough is enough. We don’t play our best game but then we maybe have to be more aggressive and win a few duels, sprint a few times extra’ and I was mostly worried that that didn’t happen in that game.

“It is a game we have learned from because afterwards I saw a different attitude in all the other games when we were 1-0 behind and there were 20-25 minutes left.”

In the days following that game, Slot made it clear to his players that he didn’t want that to happen again. Since then, Liverpool has rescued points from losing positions on seven occasions - a big reason why it sits top of the table at the moment.

“It is not 100 per cent sure it will never happen again but what I told the players as well is that it doesn’t fit me,” said Slot.

“At Feyenoord when these things happened I always had players who stepped up. And I said to them this probably doesn’t fit you guys as well because with Jurgen [Klopp] you always came back.

“I do remember from that game that I made one or two substitutions and I played Trent [Alexander-Arnold] as a midfielder for the first time as well.

“It was also in a period of time when I still had to learn what was the best for this team.

“It was still in a period of time where we still had to get to know each other better and better and that was also for me a learning moment and what works and doesn’t work.”

Now, with Forest flying high, tomorrow’s game take on greater significance than anyone could have imagined at the start of the season, with Slot insistent his side's opponents are in the conversation for this season's title.

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“They deserve to be treated like this if you look at the way they play and look at their results.”

Their lofty standing though doesn't come as a surprise to the Liverpool boss, given they're big spending since returning to the Premier League. Forest has splashed out well over $243m (£200m/€238m) over the last couple of years, with a huge turnover of players leading to an almost entirely different team even from their first season back in the top tier in 2022/23.

“I did know Forest was a big force in English football for a long period of time but that has been quite a long time ago. But they are doing really good and Nuno is doing an incredible job.

“But if you look at the amount of money they spent it is not a complete surprise that they do well this season.”