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The away side's victory at Anfield the previous campaign appeared a one-off in an typically dominant Premier League performances at Anfield for the hosts. A second successive win now, a much more emphatic victory under their manager, was symptomatic of the issues engulfing the declining title holders.

Nottingham Forest's outstanding performance

The team was exemplary as they secured their biggest win at Anfield. Scores from Murillo, superb at both ends of the playing surface, Nicolò Savona and the exceptional the playmaker led to a well-earned victory for a team that also kept a first clean sheet in twenty division games.

Anfield's struggles

Liverpool, in comparison, were a chaotic as they endured an eighth defeat in 11 matches to drop into the lower half of the standings. Poor at set-plays, again, impotent in the final third, again, with the striker substituted after 68 uninfluential period, and poor in defense, they struggled in each phase to succumb to a consecutive three-nil loss.

Early pressure without payoff

For 30 minutes Liverpool maintained the upper hand, the infrequent attack from Gibbs-White aside, but the inability to turn promise into the tangible reward of finishes hurt them significantly. Alexis Mac Allister was presented with an early-on opening from Gakpo's drive into the box only for Anderson to produce a brilliant line save with his forehead. He had a follow-up attempt deflected shortly after while skilful skill from the winger produced another near-post chance for the defender. The visiting defender just managed to disturb the defender into firing over.

Dead-ball frailty hits again

Arne Slot has often criticized Liverpool's vulnerability to fast breaks and set-plays this season. This provided further evidence for concern when Nottingham Forest scored first through a combination of the two.

Sean Dyche was aghast after the forward was unable to find Nicolás Domínguez in space on the break and gave Ibrahima Konaté opportunity to intercept. The resulting corner kick triggered ecstatic moments in the visitors' bench, nevertheless, when Anderson's cross deflected off the captain to the goalscorer and the centre-half hammered an unstoppable shot from close range into the opposite side. It brought similarities of the defender's disallowed finish against Manchester City in the Forest's opener with Ndoye positioned in an offside in front of Liverpool's fit-again goalkeeper Alisson.

VAR calls and debate

Unsurprisingly, the the skipper was quick to highlight the parallels to the official, Madley. However, unlike Robertson at the City's ground, Ndoye made no obvious gesture in front of the keeper and the score was given. The league clarified: "The referee's call of valid strike was reviewed and verified by the video system – with it deemed that the player was not in the view of the keeper and made no an action that impacted an player."

Liverpool were let off by the referees and the system a short time after when Igor Jesus thought he had increased Nottingham Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a dreadful match, made an unconvincing effort to clear an the midfielder's ball and directed the sphere against the Forest striker, who controlled before placing the lower corner of Alisson's posts. The referee, in contact with his assistant referee, disallowed the strike for a handball that various replays found it hard to verify or deny. The authority said: "The decision of no goal was assessed and confirmed by the system – with it judged that Jesus inadvertently touched the sphere before finishing."

Another score extends cushion

So much for the reprieve. Almost immediately of the resumption the midfielder failed to intercept a delivery towards Williams inside the Liverpool penalty area. The full-back spun away from his marker and laid their next goal on a platter for partner full back Savona, who found Alisson's top corner with a simple accurate strike.

Strategic adjustments do not work

Liverpool's coach made changes, replacing Ibrahima Konaté with Ekitiké after the 55th minute and pairing the France forward next to the Swede. The tactical shift continued just a short period before Isak was substituted following another quiet performance. the winger and Ngumoha were additionally introduced to the hosts' offense but sloppiness in play and solid opposition backline prevented the hosts at arm's length.

Concluding blow wraps up the victory

Forest displayed the finesse and penetration that the hosts were lacking in the final third to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively