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Nottingham Forest's success on Merseyside in the prior year was a blip in an typically commanding top-flight home campaign for Liverpool. Their repeat in the current campaign, a decisively stronger triumph under the Forest boss, was symptomatic of the challenges afflicting the faltering former winners.

Forest's superb display

The team was impressive as they achieved their most significant win at the famous ground. Strikes from the defender, outstanding at both ends of the field, Nicolò Savona and the exceptional the playmaker spurred a well-earned victory for a squad that also maintained a maid clean sheet in twenty Premier League matches.

Anfield's struggles

Liverpool, on the other hand, were a chaotic as they endured an 8th defeat in 11 fixtures to slide into the lower half of the table. Weak at set pieces, again, unproductive in attack, consistently, with Isak withdrawn after 68 uninfluential minutes, and poor in defense, they faltered in all departments to yield to a second successive 3-0 loss.

Opening control missing result

For half an hour the home side maintained the initiative, the infrequent break from the Forest attacker aside, but the failure to capitalize on opportunities into the actual outcome of goals cost them dearly. the midfielder was given an early-on chance from Cody Gakpo's surge into the penalty area only for Elliot Anderson to produce a excellent goalline clearance with his forehead. The Liverpool midfielder had a another effort deflected shortly after while skilful control from Salah produced another close-range opportunity for the defender. A Forest defender just managed to put off the back into blazing over.

Dead-ball frailty afflicts repeatedly

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly bemoaned the team's susceptibility to counterattacks and dead balls in the current campaign. This provided new reason for frustration when Forest took the lead through a combination of the both aspects.

Sean Dyche was surprised after Jesus failed to pass to Nicolás Domínguez in room on the break and gave the defender opportunity to intervene. The following set-piece caused celebratory reactions in the Forest dugout, though, when Elliot Anderson's cross touched Virgil van Dijk to the goalscorer and the central defender fired an irresistible finish from inside the box into the back of the net. There were similarities of Van Dijk's chalked-off strike against the champions in the visitors' opener with the forward standing in an offside in front of Liverpool's fit-again shot-stopper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee calls and controversy

Unsurprisingly, the Van Dijk was swift to highlight the similarities to the referee, Andrew Madley. In contrast to Andy Robertson at the City's ground, the forward made no clear action in front of Alisson and the goal stood. Officials stated: "The referee's call of goal was checked and verified by VAR – with it judged that Ndoye was outside of the view of the goalkeeper and made no an move that impacted an player."

The Reds were let off by the referees and the system a short time later when Jesus was convinced he had doubled Nottingham Forest's lead.

The defender, who experienced a terrible afternoon, made an unconvincing attempt to deal with an Sangaré's ball and deflected the sphere against the forward, who controlled before finding the bottom corner of the keeper's goal. Madley, in discussion with his linesman, ruled out the effort for a illegal use of hand that multiple footage found it hard to verify or refute. The Premier League announced: "The referee's call of no goal was reviewed and supported by the video assistant – with it considered that Igor Jesus inadvertently controlled the ball before scoring."

Another goal extends cushion

That was the end of the reprieve. Within seconds of the restart the midfielder was unable to stop a pass towards Neco Williams inside the Anfield box. Williams spun away from his opponent and set up Forest's second on a silver platter for fellow wing-back Savona, who found the goalkeeper's top corner with a composed placed shot.

Tactical changes do not work

Arne Slot took risks, bringing off Ibrahima Konaté with the forward after 55 minutes and pairing the Les Bleus striker with the Swede. This change continued for only 13 minutes before the striker was replaced following a further quiet showing. the winger and the youngster were also introduced to the Liverpool attack but carelessness in play and resolute opposition backline prevented the Reds at distance.

Final blow seals the outcome

The visitors demonstrated the finesse and penetration that the hosts were without in the opposition half to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively