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Nottingham Forest's victory on Merseyside in the prior year was a blip in an typically commanding top-flight performances at Anfield for the hosts. This recurrence in the current campaign, a decisively stronger triumph under Sean Dyche, was indicative of the problems engulfing the struggling title holders.

The visitors' exemplary showing

Nottingham Forest proved exemplary as they achieved their biggest triumph at Anfield. Scores from Murillo, excellent at each end of the playing surface, Nicolò Savona and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a merited victory for a squad that also maintained a initial shutout in 20 Premier League matches.

The home side's difficulties

The hosts, on the other hand, were a disorganized as they experienced an eighth defeat in 11 games to slide into the bottom half of the table. Poor at set pieces, repeatedly, unproductive in offense, as before, with the striker replaced after sixty-eight quiet period, and poor in defense, they struggled in all departments to succumb to a consecutive heavy reverse.

Initial pressure missing reward

For half an hour the Reds held the upper hand, the sporadic counter from Morgan Gibbs-White aside, but the shortcoming to capitalize on opportunities into the tangible reward of goals hurt them significantly. Alexis Mac Allister was presented with an early-on chance from Gakpo's surge into the area only for the Forest player to execute a superb desperate block with his head. Mac Allister had a second shot stopped soon after while dazzling skill from Salah created another short-distance opening for Milos Kerkez. An opposition player just succeeded to pressure the back into blazing over.

Set-piece weakness hits repeatedly

Arne Slot has frequently criticized his side's vulnerability to counterattacks and set pieces this season. There was further evidence for frustration when the visitors took the lead through a blend of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was shocked after the forward did not pass to the midfielder in space on the fast attack and gave Konaté opportunity to intercept. The resulting corner kick triggered jubilant reactions in the Forest dugout, though, when Anderson's delivery deflected off the captain to the goalscorer and the centre-half drilled an irresistible strike from six yards into the opposite side. It brought reminders of the defender's chalked-off finish against the champions in the Forest's first goal with Dan Ndoye standing in an offside position in front of Liverpool's recovered goalkeeper the goalie.

Video Assistant Referee decisions and controversy

As expected, the Van Dijk was quick to highlight the comparisons to the match official, Andrew Madley. However, unlike the full-back at the Etihad Stadium, Dan Ndoye made no clear movement in front of the goalkeeper and the goal stood. The Premier League confirmed: "The referee's call of a score was examined and upheld by VAR – with it judged that he was not in the sightline of Alisson and made no an move that influenced an opponent."

The Reds were reprieved by the officiating team and the system two minutes following when Jesus believed he had increased the visitors' lead.

The defender, who experienced a terrible match, made an feeble try to clear an Sangaré's delivery and directed the sphere against the Forest striker, who controlled before placing the net of the keeper's net. Madley, in communication with his linesman, disallowed the attempt for a illegal use of hand that several reviews were unable to prove or refute. The Premier League said: "The ruling of disallowed strike was reviewed and supported by the system – with it considered that the player inadvertently controlled the ball before netting."

Another score extends lead

That was the end of the let-off. Almost immediately of the resumption Mac Allister failed to intercept a ball towards Williams inside the home 18-yard box. The full-back spun away from his defender and set up the visitors' second on a plate for fellow full back the scorer, who located Alisson's roof of the net with a calm placed shot.

Tactical substitutions prove ineffective

Liverpool's coach took risks, replacing Ibrahima Konaté with Ekitiké after 55 minutes and using the France attacker with the Swede. The tactical shift continued just a short period before Alexander Isak was substituted following one more anonymous performance. Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were also added to the Anfield's frontline but inefficiency in possession and sturdy Forest defending kept the home side at distance.

Late strike seals the victory

The visitors displayed the precision and cutting edge that the hosts were missing in the attacking phase to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively