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Nottingham Forest's victory at Anfield in the prior year seemed an anomaly in an usually commanding top-flight home record for the hosts. Their repeat now, a much more emphatic triumph under their manager, was symptomatic of the issues afflicting the struggling champions.

Forest's outstanding display

Forest were impressive as they achieved their largest victory at Liverpool's home. Scores from the defender, superb at each end of the playing surface, the full-back and the exceptional Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a well-earned victory for a team that also secured a initial shutout in 20 top-flight matches.

Liverpool's difficulties

The hosts, on the other hand, were a mess as they experienced an 8th setback in 11 matches to drop into the lower half of the league. Poor at set-plays, repeatedly, ineffectual in offense, as before, with Alexander Isak withdrawn after sixty-eight quiet period, and vulnerable at the back, they struggled in every area to succumb to a second successive 3-0 reverse.

Early control missing reward

For half an hour the Reds held the upper hand, the infrequent attack from the Forest attacker excepted, but the inability to capitalize on opportunities into the hard currency of finishes hurt them significantly. the midfielder was presented with an early-on opening from Gakpo's drive into the penalty area only for Elliot Anderson to produce a superb line save with his forehead. Mac Allister had a follow-up attempt deflected shortly after while skilful skill from Mohamed Salah set up another near-post opportunity for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just succeeded to disturb the defender into sending high.

Set-play vulnerability afflicts repeatedly

Arne Slot has frequently criticized Liverpool's weakness to counterattacks and set pieces now. There was fresh cause for concern when the visitors took the lead through a combination of the two.

Sean Dyche was aghast after the forward was unable to find the midfielder in an open area on the fast attack and gave Ibrahima Konaté a chance to clear. The following corner kick caused celebratory reactions in the Forest dugout, nevertheless, when the midfielder's delivery deflected off Van Dijk to the goalscorer and the central defender fired an irresistible shot from inside the box into the back of the net. This evoked reminders of the defender's ruled out goal against City in the Forest's initial score with Ndoye located in an offside in front of the home side's recovered shot-stopper the goalie.

VAR rulings and debate

Predictably, the the skipper was swift to point out the parallels to the match official, the ref. But unlike Andy Robertson at the Manchester, the forward made no obvious gesture in front of the goalkeeper and the score stood. The Premier League clarified: "The initial ruling of a score was reviewed and upheld by the assistant – with it considered that he was away from the sightline of the keeper and made no an action that impacted an opponent."

The home side were let off by the referees and the system two minutes following when Jesus thought he had doubled Nottingham Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a dreadful day, made an feeble effort to deal with an Sangaré's ball and directed the object against the attacker, who brought down before slotting the bottom corner of the goalkeeper's net. Andrew Madley, in contact with his assistant referee, disallowed the attempt for a handling that various footage found it hard to confirm or refute. The Premier League stated: "The decision of no goal was checked and upheld by the video assistant – with it considered that Jesus accidentally controlled the ball before netting."

Second score widens advantage

That was the end of the let-off. Within seconds of the kick-off the midfielder did not stop a delivery towards the defender inside the Anfield penalty area. The full-back turned from his defender and presented their next goal on a silver platter for teammate defender the scorer, who found Alisson's top corner with a simple placed shot.

Strategic adjustments prove ineffective

Liverpool's coach made changes, replacing Konaté with the forward after just before the hour and using the French attacker alongside Alexander Isak. This change persisted just a short period before Isak was replaced following one more quiet showing. Federico Chiesa and Ngumoha were additionally introduced to the Anfield's frontline but sloppiness in play and sturdy Forest defending prevented the home side at distance.

Late blow seals the result

The visitors showed the skill and incisiveness that the hosts were missing in the opposition half to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively