“Just 11 minutes later, Nuno Espirito Santo gambled with his subs” Chris Sutton praise mindblowiing Nuno masteeplan that made Liverpool suffered at home turf.
It was the first time since 1969 that Nottingham Forest secured a victory at Anfield, and Nuno Espirito Santo achieved something even legendary manager Brian Clough couldn’t.
Winning at Anfield is a rare feat in recent years, but with Jurgen Klopp absent, Forest may have capitalized on some early transitional challenges under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot.
Callum Hudson-Odoi netted his first goal of the season against Liverpool, shocking the home crowd and helping Forest claim a crucial three points.
With Espirito Santo executing his game plan to perfection, he silenced many of his harshest critics during this memorable match.
Nuno Espirito Santo proves Chris Sutton wrong in Liverpool clash
Pundits can certainly change their opinions quickly. In a matter of minutes, Forest brought on Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga, two players who had been surprisingly benched, and their impact was immediate.
When the substitutions were made, Chris Sutton expressed doubt during live commentary on BBC Sport, suggesting that the changes might favor Liverpool more than Forest.
Sutton remarked: “I think this is a gamble from Nuno Espirito Santo, with more attacking players on the pitch, it could open up space for Liverpool.”
However, Elanga and Hudson-Odoi combined for the decisive moment, with Hudson-Odoi scoring the match-winner. Sutton quickly revised his stance, acknowledging: “Nuno Espirito Santo gambled with his subs… Hudson-Odoi bends the ball into the far corner, and Alisson can’t get near it. This is smash and grab from Forest.”
Espirito Santo quietly making his mark at Forest
When Espirito Santo replaced the popular Steve Cooper in December, many Forest fans weren’t thrilled with the appointment.
To his credit, he managed to keep Forest in the Premier League last season with a string of strong performances. Some pundits had doubted his ability, but Espirito Santo has stayed focused, avoiding media hype and simply working to improve the team week by week.
His successful game plan against Liverpool showed why he deserves respect. Any doubts about his suitability for the job should now be dismissed, and Forest fans should fully support their head coach.