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Nottingham Forest's success at Anfield last season was a blip in an typically commanding English top division performances at Anfield for Liverpool. This recurrence now, a much more emphatic victory under Sean Dyche, was indicative of the issues engulfing the declining title holders.

Forest's outstanding showing

The team was exemplary as they secured their most significant triumph at Liverpool's home. Goals from the defender, outstanding at either side of the field, the full-back and the magnificent Morgan Gibbs-White spurred a well-earned success for a Forest side that also kept a initial shutout in twenty Premier League fixtures.

The home side's difficulties

The Reds, in comparison, were a mess as they suffered an 8th loss in 11 fixtures to fall into the lower half of the table. Ineffective at set-plays, once more, ineffectual in the final third, as before, with the striker withdrawn after sixty-eight uninfluential moments, and defensively weak, they struggled in each phase to fall to a second successive heavy loss.

Initial pressure lacking result

For 30 minutes Liverpool enjoyed the initiative, the infrequent attack from the Forest attacker apart, but the shortcoming to convert chances into the tangible reward of scores hurt them significantly. Alexis Mac Allister was given an initial chance from the forward's surge into the box only for Anderson to execute a brilliant line save with his forehead. The Liverpool midfielder had a another effort blocked soon after while dazzling footwork from Mohamed Salah produced another short-distance chance for Milos Kerkez. The visiting defender just managed to pressure the defender into sending high.

Dead-ball frailty hits once more

Arne Slot has repeatedly lamented the team's vulnerability to transitions and set-plays this season. There was further evidence for frustration when the visitors scored first through a combination of the each weakness.

Dyche was shocked after Jesus was unable to find the midfielder in room on the fast attack and allowed Konaté opportunity to intercept. The ensuing set-piece sparked ecstatic scenes in the away team's area, nevertheless, when Elliot Anderson's ball glanced off Van Dijk to Murillo and the central defender fired an unbeatable shot from close range into the far corner. This evoked similarities of Van Dijk's chalked-off goal against City in the visitors' initial score with Dan Ndoye positioned in an offside position in front of Anfield's recovered shot-stopper the Brazilian.

Video Assistant Referee rulings and debate

Unsurprisingly, the Van Dijk was prompt to point out the parallels to the match official, Madley. In contrast to Robertson at the City's ground, Dan Ndoye made no obvious action in front of Alisson and the score stood. Officials stated: "The on-field decision of goal was checked and upheld by the video system – with it considered that the player was away from the sightline of Alisson and made no an interference that impacted an defender."

The Reds were saved by the match officials and VAR 120 seconds following when Jesus thought he had increased Nottingham Forest's cushion.

The defender, who suffered a dreadful day, made an feeble try to deal with an Sangaré's cross and deflected the sphere against the Forest striker, who controlled before slotting the lower corner of the keeper's goal. Madley, in contact with his linesman, chalked off the strike for a handball that various replays found it hard to verify or deny. The authority announced: "The ruling of invalid score was checked and upheld by VAR – with it deemed that Jesus inadvertently touched the object before finishing."

Second score widens cushion

So much for the reprieve. Almost immediately of the restart Mac Allister was unable to stop a delivery towards Williams inside the Liverpool box. Williams evaded from his opponent and laid their next goal on a plate for fellow defender Nicolò Savona, who picked out the goalkeeper's roof of the net with a calm accurate strike.

Strategic adjustments do not work

Liverpool's coach took risks, bringing off the defender with Ekitiké after the 55th minute and partnering the France striker next to Alexander Isak. The tactical shift persisted all of 13 minutes before the striker was substituted following a further ineffective display. Federico Chiesa and the youngster were additionally introduced to the hosts' offense but sloppiness in possession and solid Forest defending kept the hosts at arm's length.

Late goal wraps up the result

Nottingham Forest showed the precision and penetration that the home team were without in the final third to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively