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Forest's victory at Anfield the previous campaign appeared a one-off in an otherwise commanding English top division performances at Anfield for the Merseyside club. This recurrence in the current campaign, a much more emphatic success under Sean Dyche, was symptomatic of the problems afflicting the declining former winners.

The visitors' outstanding performance

Nottingham Forest proved exemplary as they achieved their most significant win at Anfield. Strikes from the Brazilian, excellent at either side of the pitch, Nicolò Savona and the exceptional the playmaker inspired a well-earned success for a Forest side that also secured a maid clean sheet in 20 top-flight games.

The home side's difficulties

The Reds, in comparison, were a chaotic as they experienced an eighth defeat in eleven fixtures to fall into the second tier of the standings. Weak at set pieces, again, impotent in the final third, as before, with the striker substituted after 68 anonymous minutes, and vulnerable at the back, they faltered in all departments to succumb to a second successive 3-0 defeat.

Opening control lacking result

For half an hour Liverpool maintained the upper hand, the occasional break from the Forest attacker aside, but the shortcoming to capitalize on opportunities into the tangible reward of goals cost them dearly. the midfielder was presented with an initial chance from Cody Gakpo's surge into the area only for the Forest player to produce a superb desperate block with his head. Mac Allister had a another effort blocked soon after while dazzling footwork from the winger created another short-distance opportunity for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just did enough to disturb the full-back into blazing over.

Dead-ball frailty strikes again

Liverpool's coach has often criticized his side's susceptibility to fast breaks and set pieces now. There was new reason for complaint when Nottingham Forest scored first through a combination of the two.

Sean Dyche was aghast after Jesus failed to pass to the midfielder in space on the counter and presented Ibrahima Konaté a chance to clear. The ensuing corner kick triggered ecstatic scenes in the Forest dugout, however, when Elliot Anderson's cross touched the captain to the goalscorer and the central defender drilled an unstoppable strike from six yards into the back of the net. This evoked similarities of the defender's disallowed finish against Manchester City in the Forest's first goal with the forward standing in an offside position in front of Anfield's returning goalkeeper the Brazilian.

VAR calls and dispute

Predictably, the Van Dijk was swift to mention the comparisons to the official, Madley. But unlike Andy Robertson at the Manchester, Ndoye made no apparent gesture in front of the keeper and the score remained. Officials confirmed: "The referee's call of a score was checked and confirmed by the video system – with it considered that Ndoye was not in the sightline of the keeper and did not make an interference that impacted an defender."

The Reds were reprieved by the match officials and the system a short time following when Jesus thought he had increased Nottingham Forest's cushion.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a poor match, made an feeble attempt to clear an Sangaré's ball and directed the ball against the Forest striker, who brought down before finding the bottom corner of Alisson's goal. The referee, in discussion with his linesman, ruled out the attempt for a handling that several footage struggled to verify or refute. The authority announced: "The ruling of disallowed strike was reviewed and upheld by the system – with it judged that Igor Jesus accidentally controlled the sphere before finishing."

Follow-up goal increases lead

Any hope from the let-off. Moments of the kick-off Mac Allister failed to cut out a ball towards Neco Williams inside the Anfield penalty area. The former Liverpool defender evaded from his defender and presented the visitors' second on a platter for fellow wing-back Nicolò Savona, who located the keeper's top corner with a simple side-foot finish.

Strategic substitutions do not work

Liverpool's coach went for broke, substituting Ibrahima Konaté with Hugo Ekitiké after 55 minutes and pairing the France forward alongside Alexander Isak. That experiment continued just a short period before Isak was substituted following one more anonymous showing. Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were further thrown into the Anfield's frontline but carelessness in possession and sturdy visitors' defense held the hosts at arm's length.

Late blow confirms the victory

Nottingham Forest showed the skill and cutting edge that the home team were without in the opposition half to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively