Nuno speaks out as Liverpool boss Arne Slot insults Nottingham Forest

Nuno Espirito Santo told Liverpool boss Arne Slot “money doesn’t play football” after he suggested Nottingham Forest have spent their way to success this season.

In a crucial game that could decide whether they are in the running for the title, Forest will host Slot’s Premier League leaders at the City Ground on Tuesday.

The team led by Nuno has won six straight league games, and a win on Tuesday would put them within three points of Liverpool.

Slot was positive about Nuno and Forest before the game, but he countered by stating that “it’s not a complete surprise if you look at the money they spent.”

Nuno, however, asserted that the players were more important than the money.

“I don’t know the spending, I don’t know the value. That doesn’t happen,” he said.

“I look at the player as a human being and how I can make them better. How can I make you better?

“Money doesn’t play football, people do. It’s not my issue, we are not concerned about the price tag of things.”

Nuno also said the suggestion his side were involved in a Premier League title race was based on “if, if, if, if”.

“We must engage in the games. We are here to compete against every team, and I believe we are performing well. Our strategy hasn’t changed,” he stated.

“It’s the same, let’s play the game; what matters most is that we know what we can do and that we know each other’s capabilities and shortcomings.

“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.

“When we do things good, we should be pleased but too many compliments can distract us, so we don’t want to pay too much attention.

“Maybe it was unexpected, but it was the start of the season, and a lot has changed since then.

Nobody in this room could have foreseen what is going to unfold. It is the players’ dedication and hard effort, as well as their ambition and drive to perform well.