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Nottingham Forest's win at Anfield the previous campaign was a blip in an usually dominant English top division performances at Anfield for the Merseyside club. This recurrence this season, a decisively stronger success under the Forest boss, was symptomatic of the challenges plaguing the faltering former winners.

The visitors' superb showing

The team was brilliant as they recorded their most significant victory at Anfield. Scores from the Brazilian, superb at both ends of the field, Nicolò Savona and the superb the playmaker inspired a merited win for a squad that also secured a first clean sheet in 20 division fixtures.

Anfield's difficulties

The hosts, on the other hand, were a mess as they endured an eighth setback in 11 games to slide into the second tier of the table. Poor at dead-ball situations, once more, unproductive in attack, as before, with the striker replaced after sixty-eight anonymous moments, and vulnerable at the back, they failed in every area to succumb to a second successive 3-0 reverse.

Early control lacking reward

For the opening half-hour the Reds maintained the upper hand, the sporadic counter from the Forest attacker apart, but the inability to turn promise into the tangible reward of scores cost them dearly. the midfielder was offered an initial opportunity from Gakpo's run into the penalty area only for the Forest player to execute a superb goalline clearance with his forehead. He had a follow-up attempt stopped soon after while dazzling skill from the winger created another short-distance chance for Milos Kerkez. The visiting defender just did enough to pressure the back into blazing over.

Set-piece frailty hits again

Arne Slot has often bemoaned Liverpool's vulnerability to transitions and set pieces now. He was given new reason for concern when the visitors opened the scoring through a mix of the two.

Dyche was shocked after Jesus failed to release the midfielder in room on the fast attack and presented the defender opportunity to intercept. The following corner kick sparked ecstatic moments in the away team's area, however, when the midfielder's ball glanced off the captain to the goalscorer and the central defender fired an unstoppable strike from six yards into the far corner. There were reminders of Van Dijk's disallowed strike against the champions in the visitors' initial score with Dan Ndoye standing in an offside in front of Liverpool's fit-again shot-stopper the Brazilian.

The review system rulings and dispute

As expected, the the skipper was quick to mention the parallels to the referee, Andrew Madley. In contrast to Robertson at the City's ground, Ndoye made no apparent action in front of the goalkeeper and the strike was given. The Premier League clarified: "The referee's call of valid strike was checked and verified by VAR – with it considered that the player was away from the line of vision of Alisson and did not make an move that impacted an player."

Liverpool were let off by the officiating team and video review 120 seconds following when the striker believed he had added to Forest's lead.

Konaté, who endured a poor day, made an unconvincing try to remove an Sangaré's ball and directed the sphere against the forward, who brought down before slotting the bottom corner of the goalkeeper's posts. The referee, in discussion with his assistant, chalked off the attempt for a handling that multiple footage were unable to prove or disprove. The Premier League said: "The referee's call of invalid score was checked and supported by the system – with it deemed that Jesus unintentionally touched the sphere before netting."

Another goal extends cushion

Any hope from the respite. Almost immediately of the resumption Mac Allister was unable to stop a ball towards Williams inside the Anfield box. The full-back evaded from his marker and set up Forest's second on a plate for partner wing-back the scorer, who found the keeper's upper corner with a composed placed shot.

Strategic adjustments prove ineffective

Liverpool's coach went for broke, bringing off the defender with Ekitiké after 55 minutes and using the French attacker with Isak. This change lasted for only less than a quarter-hour before the striker was replaced following one more anonymous performance. Chiesa and Ngumoha were further thrown into the Anfield's frontline but inefficiency in ball control and solid Forest defending held the Reds at arm's length.

Concluding goal seals the outcome

Forest showed the finesse and penetration that the hosts were without in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively