Arne Slot deals a blow to Nottingham Forest’s Champions League hopes after Brentford defeat

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Nottingham Forest’s Champions League hopes are already reeling after Thursday’s defeat to Brentford, but Arne Slot’s Liverpool plans could prove even more costly.

Forest’s predicted Champions League chances have slipped after the 2-0 home defeat, with Opta now only giving the Reds a 58% chance of qualifying for European football’s top table.

Nuno Espirito Santo and his staff will be trying not to panic, but with Callum Hudson-Odoi suffering an injury against The Bees, there are very few positives to take away from the game.

At this point, then, the Forest squad will have to focus on the final four games of the Premier League season, but elsewhere, a decision that Arne Slot has just hinted at could make qualifying for the Champions League even harder.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool rotation could damage Nottingham Forest

Slot has become obsessed with Forest this season after Espirito Santo’s side became the first and only side to beat Liverpool at Anfield under the Dutchman back in September.

However, Slot could well be about to have the last laugh, as in his press conference previewing Liverpool’s trip to face Chelsea on Sunday, he hinted at giving minutes to some who have struggled for game time.

He said: “My lineups will be different. We are not going to change everyone, but there will be a few players that will come into the team.”

With Chelsea currently level on points with Forest and occupying the final Champions League spot in the Premier League table, Liverpool not being at full strength is the last thing that those at the City Ground will have wanted to hear, especially given that Espirito Santo lacks that option himself.

Nottingham Forest’s depth was questioned against Brentford

Going in at half time behind, it was expected that the Forest manager would react in the second half, which he did, making the following substitutions in the second period:

• Nicolas Dominguez for Callum Hudson-Odoi (’46)
• Taiwo Awoniyi for Elliot Anderson (’61)
• Ibrahim Sangare for Ola Aina (’75)
• Jota Silva for Morgan Gibbs-White (’75)
• Ramon Sosa for Ryan Yates (’85)

Awoniyi’s impact was slammed by Forest fans after he failed to add the necessary bite to the Reds’ attack, but alongside him, Jota and Sosa only managed two shots between them, neither finding the target.

Dominguez failed to create a single chance in his 45 minutes on the pitch as well, highlighting that Forest will need their first-team talent to provide the impetus in these final four games, as those on the bench are struggling to change games as hoped.