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The away side's win here last season seemed an anomaly in an otherwise dominant top-flight performances at Anfield for Liverpool. Their repeat in the current campaign, a decisively stronger triumph under the Forest boss, was symptomatic of the challenges engulfing the declining title holders.

Nottingham Forest's superb showing

Forest were impressive as they achieved their biggest victory at the famous ground. Scores from Murillo, superb at each end of the field, Savona and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a well-earned win for a team that also kept a initial shutout in twenty Premier League matches.

Anfield's woes

Liverpool, by contrast, were a chaotic as they experienced an eighth defeat in 11 matches to fall into the lower half of the standings. Ineffective at set-plays, again, impotent in offense, as before, with Isak replaced after 68 uninfluential minutes, and poor in defense, they faltered in each phase to yield to a second successive three-nil loss.

Opening dominance missing payoff

For half an hour Liverpool held the initiative, the infrequent counter from Morgan Gibbs-White aside, but the shortcoming to turn promise into the tangible reward of goals hurt them significantly. Alexis Mac Allister was given an initial opening from the forward's drive into the penalty area only for the Forest player to produce a superb goalline clearance with his skull. The Liverpool midfielder had a second shot blocked shortly after while skilful skill from the winger set up another short-distance opportunity for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just did enough to disturb the defender into blazing over.

Set-piece frailty hits repeatedly

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly lamented Liverpool's weakness to counterattacks and dead balls this season. He was given further evidence for frustration when Nottingham Forest opened the scoring through a mix of the both aspects.

The Forest manager was surprised after Igor Jesus was unable to find the midfielder in room on the counter and gave Ibrahima Konaté opportunity to intervene. The resulting corner kick caused celebratory moments in the visitors' bench, though, when the midfielder's cross touched Virgil van Dijk to Murillo and the defender drilled an irresistible finish from six yards into the back of the net. It brought reminders of the captain's ruled out goal against the champions in the visitors' initial score with Ndoye positioned in an offside in front of Liverpool's recovered keeper the goalie.

The review system decisions and debate

As expected, the Liverpool captain was swift to point out the parallels to the match official, Andrew Madley. But unlike Robertson at the Manchester, Ndoye made no apparent gesture in front of the keeper and the score was given. The Premier League confirmed: "The on-field decision of valid strike was examined and upheld by VAR – with it considered that he was not in the line of vision of the goalkeeper and made no an move that impacted an opponent."

The home side were reprieved by the officiating team and video review a short time later when the striker thought he had increased the visitors' cushion.

The defender, who endured a dreadful match, made an weak attempt to remove an Sangaré's cross and directed the object against the forward, who handled before slotting the net of the goalkeeper's goal. Madley, in communication with his linesman, chalked off the attempt for a illegal use of hand that several footage were unable to confirm or disprove. The Premier League announced: "The decision of no goal was reviewed and upheld by the system – with it considered that Jesus inadvertently controlled the object before finishing."

Second score extends advantage

So much for the respite. Within seconds of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister did not intercept a ball towards Williams inside the home box. The former Liverpool defender evaded from his marker and set up their next goal on a silver platter for partner wing-back Nicolò Savona, who found Alisson's upper corner with a composed side-foot finish.

Tactical substitutions prove ineffective

Arne Slot made changes, replacing Konaté with Hugo Ekitiké after 55 minutes and partnering the French striker with the Swede. The tactical shift lasted just a short period before Isak was replaced following a further ineffective showing. Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were additionally introduced to the hosts' offense but carelessness in possession and sturdy visitors' defense held the Reds at arm's length.

Concluding blow confirms the result

Nottingham Forest displayed the finesse and cutting edge that the hosts were missing in the opposition half to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively