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The away side's victory here last season seemed an anomaly in an otherwise commanding top-flight home campaign for the Merseyside club. This recurrence in the current campaign, a much more emphatic triumph under their manager, was symptomatic of the challenges engulfing the struggling title holders.

Forest's exemplary showing

The team was brilliant as they recorded their largest victory at Liverpool's home. Scores from the Brazilian, superb at both ends of the pitch, Savona and the exceptional Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a merited success for a squad that also maintained a maid clean sheet in 20 top-flight fixtures.

The home side's woes

Liverpool, in comparison, were a disorganized as they suffered an eighth defeat in eleven matches to fall into the second tier of the standings. Ineffective at dead-ball situations, once more, ineffectual in the final third, consistently, with Alexander Isak replaced after 68 uninfluential period, and poor in defense, they faltered in every area to succumb to a back-to-back 3-0 reverse.

Initial dominance without reward

For the opening half-hour Liverpool held the initiative, the occasional break from the Forest attacker apart, but the failure to turn promise into the hard currency of scores proved costly. the midfielder was given an early-on opportunity from the forward's drive into the area only for the Forest player to execute a superb line save with his head. The Liverpool midfielder had a follow-up attempt deflected soon after while skilful control from Mohamed Salah set up another short-distance opportunity for Kerkez. An opposition player just did enough to pressure the back into firing over.

Dead-ball weakness afflicts once more

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly criticized Liverpool's weakness to counterattacks and set-plays in the current campaign. There was further evidence for concern when Nottingham Forest took the lead through a blend of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was surprised after the forward was unable to find Domínguez in space on the fast attack and gave Konaté a chance to intervene. The following set-piece sparked celebratory moments in the visitors' bench, though, when Anderson's delivery touched Van Dijk to the defender and the central defender fired an unstoppable strike from close range into the opposite side. This evoked reminders of the captain's chalked-off goal against City in the away team's initial score with Dan Ndoye positioned in an illegal position in front of the home side's recovered keeper the Brazilian.

Video Assistant Referee calls and controversy

Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool captain was prompt to highlight the comparisons to the match official, the ref. In contrast to the full-back at the Manchester, the forward made no apparent gesture in front of the keeper and the score was given. The league clarified: "The initial ruling of valid strike was examined and verified by the video system – with it judged that he was away from the line of vision of the goalkeeper and did not make an move that impacted an defender."

Liverpool were let off by the referees and video review a short time after when Jesus believed he had increased Nottingham Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a poor day, made an weak try to deal with an Sangaré's ball and deflected the sphere against the forward, who handled before slotting the net of Alisson's net. Madley, in contact with his assistant referee, disallowed the effort for a handling that several replays found it hard to verify or refute. The Premier League announced: "The referee's call of invalid score was assessed and supported by the video assistant – with it judged that Igor Jesus inadvertently handled the ball before netting."

Another goal increases cushion

Any hope from the respite. Within seconds of the kick-off the midfielder failed to cut out a pass towards the defender inside the Liverpool penalty area. Williams turned from his defender and set up Forest's second on a silver platter for teammate wing-back Nicolò Savona, who picked out the keeper's roof of the net with a simple side-foot finish.

Tactical adjustments do not work

The manager took risks, bringing off the defender with Hugo Ekitiké after just before the hour and using the French striker with Isak. This change persisted all of 13 minutes before the striker was substituted following a further quiet display. Federico Chiesa and the youngster were further thrown into the hosts' offense but inefficiency in play and sturdy Forest defending prevented the hosts at arm's length.

Concluding goal wraps up the result

Nottingham Forest demonstrated the precision and cutting edge that Liverpool were without in the opposition half to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively