“Money doesn’t play football” - Nuno Espirito Santo responds after Liverpool boss Arne Slot suggests Nottingham Forest bought their success

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has responded to Liverpool boss Arne Slot's comments that the former bought success this season. Nottingham Forest have been fabulous this season and are in third place in the league, level on points with second-placed Arsenal (40).

Speaking to the press ahead of Liverpool's clash with the side from Nottinghamshire, Slot said via The Metro:

“Nuno is doing an incredible job, but if you look at the amount of money they (have) spent it is not a complete surprise that they do well this season.”

The Portuguese tactician fired back at the Liverpool manager in a recent interview. Nuno told the press via The Metro:

“I don’t know the spending, the value. It doesn’t matter. I look at the player as a human being and ask: ‘How can I make you better?’“Money doesn’t play football. People do. I’m not concerned about the price tag of things. We have to play the games. We are here to compete against all the teams, I think we are doing well and nothing changes in our approach,” he said. “It’s the same, more important than anything is we know what we can do, we know each other, our strengths, our weaknesses, let’s play the game."

The Nottingham Forest boss concluded his response to Arne Slot, saying:

“If we start thinking about ifs…it’s if, if, if, if, that’s why we always try to approach how we are going to prepare ourselves, how we are going to play the game. At the end of the game, there will be no ifs….I’m so sorry, I apologise. No one could have predicted what’s happening now. It’s the ambition, the desire to do things well, hard work and commitment of the players that have made it possible."

“And I see a group committed to doing things well. The proof of that is that we did it before. We’re improving through the competition. We are better now. We do things better and control the momentum of games better. We are progressing. I truly believe in the habits, routines and knowledge of these players. We have a bond, and that bond has to do with knowledge and realising how a team-mate does things so you can help him and do things together. And that is getting stronger," he added.

Nottingham Forest are the only team to have handed Liverpool a defeat in the Premier League this season. They also have an excellent chance to register a fabulous double over Slot's dominant side.

They face each other for the second time in the Premier League today (January 14) at the City Ground.

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"If you look at the way they play and their results, then it is deserved" - Arne Slot expects Liverpool to have a tough game against Nottingham Forest

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed that he expects a tough game against high-flying Nottingham Forest. Nuno Espirito Santo's men have been fabulous this season and boast one of the meanest defenses in the league.

Slot believes the side will prove to be a tough opponent, telling the press during his recent pre-match interview via FotMob:

"I have always said you can judge the table best halfway through the season. They are up there with the rest so they are definitely a team in competition with us and the others. If you look at the way they play and their results, then it is deserved. It is going to be a very difficult challenge for us to get a result."

Liverpool has won four of its last six matches against Nottingham Forest since 2022, and losing the other two. With a game in hand, Slot's side have a six-point advantage in the Premier League.