🔗 Share this article

Forest's victory at Anfield last season appeared a one-off in an typically commanding top-flight performances at Anfield for Liverpool. Their repeat this season, a far more convincing success under the Forest boss, was indicative of the problems plaguing the struggling former winners.

Nottingham Forest's outstanding showing

Nottingham Forest proved brilliant as they recorded their most significant victory at the famous ground. Goals from Murillo, outstanding at each end of the playing surface, Nicolò Savona and the superb Gibbs-White spurred a merited success for a squad that also maintained a maid clean sheet in 20 Premier League matches.

Anfield's struggles

The hosts, in comparison, were a mess as they suffered an 8th defeat in 11 matches to fall into the second tier of the table. Ineffective at set-plays, once more, unproductive in offense, as before, with Alexander Isak replaced after 68 uninfluential period, and vulnerable at the back, they struggled in every area to fall to a back-to-back 3-0 loss.

Early dominance lacking result

For half an hour the Reds held the advantage, the sporadic attack from Gibbs-White aside, but the inability to capitalize on opportunities into the tangible reward of finishes proved costly. Mac Allister was presented with an early-on opportunity from the forward's run into the penalty area only for Anderson to execute a brilliant desperate block with his forehead. Mac Allister had a second shot stopped shortly after while skilful skill from Mohamed Salah produced another near-post chance for Kerkez. A Forest defender just succeeded to pressure the full-back into blazing over.

Set-piece weakness afflicts repeatedly

Liverpool's coach has often bemoaned Liverpool's vulnerability to counterattacks and set pieces now. He was given further evidence for concern when Nottingham Forest opened the scoring through a mix of the both aspects.

The Forest manager was surprised after the forward did not find the midfielder in space on the fast attack and allowed Konaté a chance to intercept. The resulting set-piece sparked ecstatic scenes in the away team's area, nevertheless, when Anderson's delivery touched Van Dijk to the goalscorer and the defender drilled an irresistible strike from six yards into the opposite side. There were reminders of the captain's disallowed goal against the champions in the visitors' initial score with Dan Ndoye standing in an offside position in front of Anfield's returning goalkeeper Alisson.

VAR rulings and debate

As expected, the Van Dijk was prompt to mention the similarities to the match official, the ref. In contrast to Robertson at the Manchester, Dan Ndoye made no clear movement in front of the goalkeeper and the strike was given. The league stated: "The referee's call of a score was examined and upheld by the assistant – with it considered that he was outside of the sightline of the keeper and avoided an action that influenced an opponent."

The Reds were saved by the referees and the system a short time later when the striker thought he had doubled Nottingham Forest's cushion.

The defender, who experienced a poor afternoon, made an unconvincing try to remove an the midfielder's ball and deflected the object against the forward, who handled before slotting the lower corner of the keeper's posts. Andrew Madley, in discussion with his assistant, ruled out the strike for a illegal use of hand that various reviews struggled to prove or disprove. The Premier League said: "The decision of no goal was assessed and upheld by the video assistant – with it considered that Igor Jesus unintentionally touched the object before netting."

Another strike widens lead

That was the end of the respite. Within seconds of the resumption Alexis Mac Allister was unable to intercept a pass towards Williams inside the Liverpool box. The full-back spun away from his defender and set up their next goal on a plate for fellow full back Savona, who located the keeper's roof of the net with a composed accurate strike.

Strategic changes prove ineffective

Liverpool's coach made changes, bringing off the defender with Hugo Ekitiké after just before the hour and pairing the French attacker next to the Swede. That experiment persisted just a short period before the striker was withdrawn following one more anonymous display. Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were also added to the hosts' offense but sloppiness in ball control and resolute visitors' defense held the hosts at bay.

Final blow seals the outcome

The visitors demonstrated the precision and incisiveness that the home team were missing in the opposition half to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively