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Nottingham Forest's victory at Anfield the previous campaign seemed an anomaly in an usually strong Premier League home campaign for the hosts. A second successive win in the current campaign, a far more convincing success under their manager, was symptomatic of the problems plaguing the struggling champions.

Forest's exemplary performance

Forest were exemplary as they recorded their largest win at the famous ground. Strikes from the defender, superb at each end of the pitch, Nicolò Savona and the superb the playmaker inspired a well-earned win for a team that also kept a maid clean sheet in twenty top-flight fixtures.

Liverpool's struggles

The Reds, in comparison, were a chaotic as they experienced an 8th defeat in 11 games to slide into the lower half of the standings. Ineffective at set-plays, again, impotent in attack, again, with the striker withdrawn after 68 quiet minutes, and vulnerable at the back, they faltered in all departments to succumb to a back-to-back three-nil loss.

Initial dominance without payoff

For 30 minutes Liverpool enjoyed the advantage, the sporadic break from Gibbs-White apart, but the shortcoming to convert chances into the hard currency of scores proved costly. Mac Allister was presented with an early-on chance from Gakpo's run into the penalty area only for Elliot Anderson to execute a brilliant line save with his forehead. He had a another effort blocked shortly after while impressive footwork from Mohamed Salah created another close-range chance for the defender. The visiting defender just managed to disturb the back into sending high.

Set-piece vulnerability afflicts again

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly criticized his side's vulnerability to transitions and dead balls this season. He was given fresh cause for frustration when the visitors opened the scoring through a mix of the both aspects.

The Forest manager was surprised after Igor Jesus failed to pass to Nicolás Domínguez in room on the counter and gave Konaté the opening to intercept. The ensuing corner kick sparked celebratory moments in the away team's area, however, when Anderson's cross glanced off Virgil van Dijk to Murillo and the centre-half fired an unstoppable strike from close range into the back of the net. It brought echoes of Van Dijk's chalked-off strike against the champions in the away team's first goal with Ndoye standing in an offside in front of Liverpool's fit-again keeper Alisson.

The review system rulings and controversy

As expected, the the skipper was prompt to mention the comparisons to the official, Madley. However, unlike Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Ndoye made no clear action in front of the keeper and the score stood. Officials stated: "The referee's call of valid strike was examined and upheld by the assistant – with it deemed that the player was not in the view of the keeper and avoided an interference that impacted an player."

Liverpool were saved by the referees and video review 120 seconds after when Jesus was convinced he had doubled Nottingham Forest's advantage.

Konaté, who endured a terrible afternoon, made an unconvincing effort to deal with an the midfielder's ball and turned the object against the forward, who brought down before slotting the bottom corner of the goalkeeper's posts. Andrew Madley, in communication with his linesman, chalked off the strike for a handball that several replays found it hard to confirm or disprove. The Premier League said: "The ruling of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Igor Jesus unintentionally controlled the object before netting."

Another strike increases advantage

So much for the let-off. Within seconds of the restart Alexis Mac Allister was unable to stop a delivery towards the defender inside the Anfield 18-yard box. The former Liverpool defender turned from his marker and presented Forest's second on a plate for partner full back the scorer, who found Alisson's top corner with a simple side-foot finish.

Managerial changes prove ineffective

Arne Slot went for broke, bringing off the defender with Ekitiké after just before the hour and partnering the Les Bleus striker alongside Alexander Isak. This change lasted just 13 minutes before the striker was substituted following a further quiet showing. the winger and Ngumoha were additionally thrown into the Anfield's frontline but sloppiness in possession and sturdy opposition backline held the home side at arm's length.

Concluding blow seals the outcome

Forest showed the finesse and cutting edge that the home team were without in the opposition half to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively