Anfield's team in crisis as Forest storm home ground once more with three-nil triumph

Nottingham Forest's success here in the prior year seemed an anomaly in an typically strong top-flight home campaign for Liverpool. Their repeat now, a much more emphatic success under Sean Dyche, was a clear sign of the problems afflicting the declining champions.

Nottingham Forest's outstanding performance

Forest were impressive as they achieved their most significant triumph at the famous ground. Scores from the Brazilian, excellent at each end of the field, Savona and the magnificent the playmaker inspired a deserved victory for a Forest side that also maintained a maid clean sheet in 20 Premier League games.

Liverpool's struggles

The Reds, in comparison, were a mess as they experienced an 8th setback in 11 matches to fall into the second tier of the league. Ineffective at set-plays, repeatedly, impotent in offense, again, with Isak substituted after 68 quiet moments, and vulnerable at the back, they struggled in all departments to fall to a consecutive three-nil defeat.

Opening dominance missing payoff

For half an hour Liverpool maintained the upper hand, the occasional counter from Morgan Gibbs-White aside, but the shortcoming to convert chances into the tangible reward of finishes proved costly. Mac Allister was offered an initial opportunity from Cody Gakpo's run into the area only for Elliot Anderson to execute a superb line save with his skull. The Liverpool midfielder had a another effort stopped soon after while impressive footwork from Salah created another close-range opportunity for Milos Kerkez. An opposition player just managed to put off the defender into sending high.

Set-piece vulnerability strikes once more

Arne Slot has repeatedly criticized the team's weakness to counterattacks and dead balls this season. This provided further evidence for complaint when Nottingham Forest opened the scoring through a mix of the each weakness.

The Forest manager was shocked after Jesus failed to pass to the midfielder in an open area on the counter and presented Ibrahima Konaté opportunity to intercept. The following corner kick triggered jubilant moments in the visitors' bench, though, when Elliot Anderson's delivery glanced off Van Dijk to the defender and the defender fired an unbeatable strike from six yards into the opposite side. It brought similarities of the defender's ruled out goal against City in the away team's opener with Dan Ndoye standing in an illegal position in front of the home side's returning goalkeeper the goalie.

Video Assistant Referee decisions and controversy

As expected, the the skipper was quick to highlight the parallels to the match official, the ref. But unlike the full-back at the Etihad Stadium, Ndoye made no clear gesture in front of the keeper and the score remained. Officials clarified: "The initial ruling of goal was checked and verified by VAR – with it deemed that Ndoye was outside of the view of the goalkeeper and avoided an interference that influenced an defender."

The Reds were let off by the officiating team and the system 120 seconds later when Jesus was convinced he had increased the visitors' advantage.

The defender, who endured a poor match, made an weak attempt to clear an the midfielder's delivery and turned the sphere against the Forest striker, who handled before slotting the net of the goalkeeper's posts. The referee, in discussion with his linesman, chalked off the effort for a handling that multiple reviews struggled to prove or refute. The authority stated: "The decision of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Jesus accidentally touched the ball before netting."

Another goal extends cushion

That was the end of the let-off. Within seconds of the resumption Alexis Mac Allister failed to stop a pass towards the defender inside the Liverpool penalty area. The full-back turned from his defender and laid Forest's second on a plate for teammate defender the scorer, who picked out Alisson's roof of the net with a calm side-foot finish.

Managerial adjustments prove ineffective

Arne Slot went for broke, substituting Konaté with the forward after the 55th minute and using the French forward with the Swede. This change lasted all of 13 minutes before Alexander Isak was replaced following another anonymous performance. the winger and Rio Ngumoha were additionally thrown into the Anfield's frontline but carelessness in play and resolute opposition backline held the Reds at distance.

Concluding goal wraps up the outcome

Forest demonstrated the skill and cutting edge that the hosts were missing in the final third to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively