reality check for Slot's Liverpool, Haaland double in Man City win

LIVERPOOL, England : New Liverpool manager Arne Slot suffered his first setback as his side surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday but Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the season.

Forest had not tasted victory at Anfield since 1969 but Callum Hudson-Odoi's 72nd minute curler beyond Liverpool keeper Alisson secured the three points as Nuno Espirito Santo's side moved into the Premier League's top four.

Erling Haaland, whose place in Manchester City's side was in doubt after being granted compassionate leave this week, continued his incredible start to the season with two goals as City recovered from conceding after 22 seconds to win 2-1.

Reigning champions City are top with a maximum 12 points from four games with Liverpool on nine and Brighton and Hove Albion, who drew at home to Ipswich Town, on eight.

Forest also have eight points from four games.

Manchester United's new signing Matthijs de Ligt grabbed his first goal of the season and Marcus Rashford scored for the first time since March as Erik Ten Hag's side cruised to a 3-0 victory at Southampton who are yet to earn a point.

Liverpool's transition from the Juergen Klopp era had appeared seamless as they began the season with three Premier League victories, but they stumbled badly against Forest.

"The result frustrates the most, and we cannot be happy about how the game went. It was a stop-start game and we hardly created any chances," lamented Dutchman Slot.

"We only have to look at ourselves - we have to be better. Far too many times we lost the ball around the area, it was not good enough. We have to be better with the ball."

For Forest, their start offers optimism that they can finally start to look upwards