Arne Slot needs new reason to remember Nottingham Forest after jibe mocked Liverpool boss

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As Liverpool return after the international break the Reds boss can't escape the fact that he is entering a period of must-win matchesIf you spent any time around Arne Slot for the first half of last season you'd know that two words were never too far away from his lips: 'Nottingham' and 'Forest'.Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at home to the side then managed by Nuno Espirito Santo on September 14 last year served as Slot's only truly meaningful loss right up until March of his first Reds season, and so perhaps it was no wonder that the Dutchman would keep referring back to it in press conferences both before and after matches, holding it up as the purest example of where his team, and indeed their manager, could improve when playing against sides defending deep.The defeat stayed with Slot for weeks and months, and Forest were never far away from his thoughts through high and higher of his first campaign in English football, so much so that supporters of the Midlands club knew it.READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk sets new record but Liverpool team-mate told he's 'best player'READ MORE: Robbie Fowler names player Liverpool have never replaced and picks Antoine Semenyo alternativeWhen Liverpool visited the City Ground in January, falling a goal down to Chris Wood's early strike, Forest fans would serenade Slot with chants of 'we're in your head' to tune of Zombie by The Cranberries.The Dutchman looked nonplussed, and it took a poacher's header from Diogo Jota - the type of goal he was so good at scoring, digging his team out of trouble - to grab Liverpool a decent point from a difficult night.It was a small step on the road to the title, but an important one.Yet now, when Forest come calling to Anfield again on Saturday, nothing but three points will do for a Reds side wobbling after five defeats in six in the league.Liverpool need a nerve-settler, and a return to the rails in a season that has lurched from side to side upon them. In short Slot needs a good run, and this could be the start of it.The visit of Forest, now managed by Sean Dyche of course, starts a run of 11 fixtures that still hold their difficulties, but don't look as tough as what has gone before them.After Forest Liverpool play PSV Eindhoven (home), West Ham (away), Sunderland (home), Leeds (away), Inter Milan (away), Brighton (home), Tottenham (away), Wolves (home), Leeds (home) and Fulham (away).That takes them right up to the visit to Arsenal on the evening of January 8, by which point the Reds will hope to be a lot closer to the current league leaders.The gap to the Gunners currently stands at eight points, and while it makes no sense to fixate on top spot in the table right now, Slot will still believe he has it within his power to get Liverpool closer to a position they took up residency in last season, even when Forest remained on his mind.The Dyche factor is perhaps one that will get Reds fans somewhat hot under the collar, but the Anfield one should ease tensions.That defeat last season was the first time Slot had failed to win a home Premier League game with Liverpool, but that has only happened on three other meaningful occasions - a 2-2 draw against Fulham after an early Andy Robertson red card (and with a Jota equaliser) and twice against Manchester United.Dyche will set up his side to frustrate of course, and Forest certainly have individuals capable of harming Liverpool, but Slot should see this as a perfect chance to reset, refresh his team and ensure that Forest are memorable for a vastly different reason this time around.