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Forest's success at Anfield the previous campaign seemed an anomaly in an otherwise dominant English top division home campaign for the Merseyside club. A second successive win now, a much more emphatic victory under their manager, was a clear sign of the challenges plaguing the struggling title holders.

The visitors' superb display

Nottingham Forest proved exemplary as they secured their largest triumph at Liverpool's home. Goals from Murillo, superb at each end of the field, the full-back and the magnificent Gibbs-White led to a merited victory for a team that also kept a maid clean sheet in twenty division games.

Anfield's difficulties

The hosts, in comparison, were a disorganized as they experienced an eighth setback in 11 matches to slide into the second tier of the league. Ineffective at set-plays, again, impotent in the final third, as before, with Isak withdrawn after sixty-eight anonymous period, and defensively weak, they struggled in all departments to succumb to a back-to-back 3-0 loss.

Initial control missing reward

For 30 minutes the Reds enjoyed the advantage, the sporadic counter from the Forest attacker aside, but the failure to convert chances into the hard currency of scores proved costly. Mac Allister was given an early-on opening from Gakpo's drive into the area only for the Forest player to produce a excellent line save with his skull. Mac Allister had a another effort blocked moments later while impressive control from Salah produced another near-post chance for Milos Kerkez. The visiting defender just managed to put off the back into sending high.

Set-piece weakness strikes again

Arne Slot has often bemoaned the team's susceptibility to fast breaks and set-plays this season. He was given further evidence for concern when the visitors opened the scoring through a combination of the both aspects.

The Forest manager was shocked after Igor Jesus failed to find the midfielder in room on the break and presented the defender the opening to intervene. The ensuing corner kick caused ecstatic reactions in the Forest dugout, however, when the midfielder's cross glanced off Van Dijk to the defender and the defender drilled an irresistible strike from six yards into the opposite side. It brought echoes of Van Dijk's chalked-off strike against City in the away team's initial score with Dan Ndoye standing in an illegal position in front of the home side's returning shot-stopper the goalie.

VAR decisions and debate

Unsurprisingly, the Van Dijk was prompt to highlight the similarities to the official, Madley. In contrast to Andy Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Ndoye made no obvious movement in front of the keeper and the strike remained. Officials clarified: "The on-field decision of goal was examined and upheld by VAR – with it judged that Ndoye was not in the view of the keeper and did not make an move that influenced an opponent."

Liverpool were let off by the referees and the system two minutes after when the striker thought he had added to the visitors' cushion.

The defender, who experienced a terrible day, made an unconvincing try to clear an Sangaré's ball and directed the sphere against the forward, who brought down before placing the net of the keeper's net. Madley, in discussion with his assistant referee, chalked off the attempt for a handball that several reviews found it hard to confirm or refute. League officials stated: "The decision of no goal was assessed and upheld by the system – with it judged that Igor Jesus inadvertently touched the object before scoring."

Follow-up score extends cushion

That was the end of the reprieve. Within seconds of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister was unable to stop a pass towards the defender inside the Anfield 18-yard box. The former Liverpool defender spun away from his marker and set up Forest's second on a platter for teammate wing-back Savona, who picked out the goalkeeper's top corner with a simple side-foot finish.

Tactical substitutions prove ineffective

Liverpool's coach took risks, replacing the defender with Hugo Ekitiké after just before the hour and pairing the Les Bleus forward next to the Swede. The tactical shift persisted for only 13 minutes before Isak was substituted following one more quiet showing. Chiesa and Ngumoha were also thrown into the hosts' offense but carelessness in ball control and resolute visitors' defense prevented the hosts at bay.

Concluding blow seals the victory

Forest showed the skill and cutting edge that Liverpool were missing in the final third to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively