Liverpool's Trophy Night Exit: Slot Skips Awards After a 3-0 Derby Demise
24 November 2025
What happened on the night
Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach, walked away from a Manchester awards ceremony on Sunday evening after his team were crushed 3-0 by Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.
According to The Athletic, Slot had claimed the Football Writers’ Association North of England Manager of the Year award for guiding Liverpool to the Premier League title in the 2024-25 season.
Yet Liverpool’s form has dipped dramatically, with six defeats from the first 12 league games, leaving them 11th in the table after the latest setback.
Slot had planned to attend the ceremony in person, but he apologized in the morning, and the club’s ambassador, Gary McAllister, collected the prize on his behalf.
In his remarks, McAllister spoke on Slot’s behalf, stating that the Dutch coach feels “immense pride” in receiving the honor.
Liverpool’s early-season stumble marks only the second time in their history they have lost six of their first 12 league games, a stat mirrored previously in the 2014-15 campaign, according to Opta data.
Slot later addressed reporters, saying the responsibility lay with him regardless of the result, and that the squad would continue to fight and the fans would stay behind them to the end.
He added that the team has been failing to convert chances and that goals conceded at crucial moments have hurt them. He emphasized the need for a decisive moment to score when playing well, noting Forest gained momentum after their strike.
Slot acknowledged that there were many factors that could have altered the outcome, but this is a challenging period for the club.
Looking ahead, Liverpool return to action on Wednesday, hosting PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, with a longing for a lift in form and results.
Scenario of the match
The visitors took the lead from a set-piece, with a forward finishing low after a corner and a Liverpool defender failing to clear the danger.
Liverpool pressed thereafter but found it difficult to convert, with a couple of promising moves thwarted by Forest or the woodwork.
Nottingham Forest doubled their advantage soon after through a well-worked counter inside the box, and the third arrived late as a rebound deflected beyond Alisson.
Despite Liverpool’s late pressure and a few half-chances, the scoreboard remained stubbornly in Forest’s favor, leaving Slot’s side with questions to answer as the final whistle blew.
