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Forest's success here the previous campaign seemed an anomaly in an otherwise commanding Premier League home record for the hosts. A second successive win now, a far more convincing triumph under Sean Dyche, was a clear sign of the challenges engulfing the struggling title holders.

The visitors' exemplary showing

Forest were brilliant as they recorded their largest win at the famous ground. Goals from the defender, excellent at each end of the pitch, Nicolò Savona and the magnificent Gibbs-White spurred a merited success for a team that also kept a maid clean sheet in 20 top-flight matches.

The home side's woes

The hosts, by contrast, were a chaotic as they experienced an eighth setback in 11 fixtures to slide into the second tier of the league. Ineffective at dead-ball situations, once more, unproductive in offense, again, with Isak substituted after sixty-eight uninfluential period, and poor in defense, they faltered in each phase to fall to a second successive 3-0 reverse.

Opening pressure lacking reward

For 30 minutes Liverpool enjoyed the upper hand, the occasional attack from Morgan Gibbs-White apart, but the failure to capitalize on opportunities into the hard currency of finishes hurt them significantly. the midfielder was presented with an early-on opportunity from the forward's drive into the penalty area only for the Forest player to produce a brilliant line save with his head. Mac Allister had a another effort deflected soon after while skilful control from Salah produced another short-distance chance for Kerkez. An opposition player just did enough to pressure the full-back into sending high.

Dead-ball frailty strikes repeatedly

Arne Slot has repeatedly criticized his side's susceptibility to counterattacks and set-plays in the current campaign. He was given new reason for complaint when Nottingham Forest scored first through a blend of the both aspects.

The Forest manager was surprised after the forward failed to release Domínguez in space on the fast attack and presented Ibrahima Konaté a chance to intercept. The resulting set-piece sparked ecstatic moments in the visitors' bench, however, when Anderson's cross glanced off Van Dijk to the goalscorer and the centre-half drilled an irresistible shot from close range into the far corner. It brought reminders of the defender's ruled out goal against City in the visitors' opener with the forward positioned in an illegal position in front of Liverpool's fit-again shot-stopper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee calls and controversy

Predictably, the the skipper was swift to mention the parallels to the match official, the ref. In contrast to Andy Robertson at the Manchester, the forward made no obvious movement in front of the goalkeeper and the strike stood. Officials stated: "The on-field decision of a score was examined and confirmed by the video system – with it judged that the player was away from the view of Alisson and avoided an move that impacted an opponent."

The Reds were saved by the officiating team and VAR a short time after when Igor Jesus was convinced he had added to Nottingham Forest's cushion.

Konaté, who suffered a dreadful day, made an feeble effort to remove an Ibrahim Sangaré's delivery and turned the ball against the Forest striker, who handled before placing the net of the goalkeeper's goal. Andrew Madley, in contact with his assistant referee, disallowed the attempt for a illegal use of hand that several replays were unable to confirm or disprove. The authority announced: "The decision of no goal was assessed and confirmed by VAR – with it judged that Igor Jesus accidentally handled the ball before finishing."

Follow-up strike extends lead

So much for the reprieve. Almost immediately of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister was unable to cut out a ball towards the defender inside the Liverpool 18-yard box. Williams turned from his defender and presented Forest's second on a plate for fellow wing-back the scorer, who found Alisson's roof of the net with a composed accurate strike.

Tactical substitutions do not work

Liverpool's coach made changes, replacing the defender with Ekitiké after just before the hour and using the French attacker alongside Isak. This change lasted just 13 minutes before the striker was replaced following a further ineffective showing. Federico Chiesa and Ngumoha were further added to the Anfield's frontline but inefficiency in possession and sturdy Forest defending kept the home side at arm's length.

Late goal wraps up the victory

Nottingham Forest demonstrated the skill and penetration that Liverpool were missing in the attacking phase to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively