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Nottingham Forest's win here in the prior year appeared a one-off in an usually commanding English top division home record for the Merseyside club. This recurrence now, a far more convincing success under Sean Dyche, was indicative of the problems plaguing the faltering former winners.

Forest's outstanding display

The team was exemplary as they recorded their biggest triumph at Liverpool's home. Scores from Murillo, superb at both ends of the field, Savona and the magnificent the playmaker led to a deserved win for a squad that also kept a maid clean sheet in 20 Premier League fixtures.

Liverpool's difficulties

Liverpool, in comparison, were a disorganized as they experienced an eighth defeat in eleven fixtures to fall into the lower half of the league. Weak at dead-ball situations, repeatedly, unproductive in offense, as before, with Alexander Isak replaced after 68 uninfluential minutes, and poor in defense, they failed in all departments to succumb to a second successive 3-0 defeat.

Initial pressure without payoff

For 30 minutes the Reds held the upper hand, the infrequent break from the Forest attacker aside, but the failure to convert chances into the tangible reward of finishes cost them dearly. Mac Allister was presented with an early chance from Gakpo's drive into the area only for Elliot Anderson to execute a superb desperate block with his skull. Mac Allister had a another effort deflected shortly after while dazzling control from Salah set up another near-post opening for Milos Kerkez. An opposition player just succeeded to pressure the full-back into sending high.

Set-play weakness hits once more

Arne Slot has often bemoaned Liverpool's vulnerability to fast breaks and set-plays in the current campaign. There was further evidence for concern when the visitors opened the scoring through a combination of the two.

The Forest manager was shocked after the forward did not find Domínguez in room on the fast attack and allowed Konaté the opening to clear. The ensuing corner triggered jubilant moments in the Forest dugout, nevertheless, when Anderson's delivery deflected off the captain to the goalscorer and the centre-half drilled an irresistible shot from inside the box into the opposite side. There were echoes of Van Dijk's chalked-off strike against City in the Forest's first goal with Dan Ndoye located in an illegal position in front of the home side's recovered goalkeeper the goalie.

VAR decisions and controversy

As expected, the Van Dijk was quick to highlight the comparisons to the referee, the ref. However, unlike Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Ndoye made no apparent action in front of the keeper and the score was given. The Premier League stated: "The referee's call of goal was examined and verified by VAR – with it deemed that Ndoye was outside of the line of vision of the goalkeeper and did not make an move that influenced an opponent."

The home side were let off by the referees and video review two minutes after when the striker believed he had increased Nottingham Forest's advantage.

The defender, who endured a poor day, made an feeble try to deal with an Ibrahim Sangaré's delivery and directed the ball against the attacker, who controlled before finding the bottom corner of the keeper's net. Madley, in discussion with his assistant, ruled out the effort for a handball that multiple replays were unable to verify or disprove. The Premier League stated: "The decision of invalid score was assessed and upheld by VAR – with it considered that Jesus accidentally controlled the object before netting."

Second goal widens lead

So much for the let-off. Moments of the restart Alexis Mac Allister failed to stop a ball towards Neco Williams inside the Liverpool box. Williams evaded from his opponent and set up their next goal on a plate for partner defender Savona, who found Alisson's upper corner with a composed side-foot finish.

Strategic substitutions fail

The manager took risks, substituting Konaté with Ekitiké after 55 minutes and using the French striker with the Swede. The tactical shift lasted just a short period before Alexander Isak was substituted following another anonymous showing. Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were also introduced to the Anfield's frontline but sloppiness in possession and resolute opposition backline held the hosts at bay.

Final strike seals the result

Forest showed the skill and incisiveness that Liverpool were lacking in the final third to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively