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Nottingham Forest's victory on Merseyside last season was a blip in an usually strong English top division performances at Anfield for the Merseyside club. Their repeat in the current campaign, a much more emphatic victory under the Forest boss, was symptomatic of the challenges plaguing the faltering champions.

The visitors' outstanding display

Nottingham Forest proved impressive as they achieved their most significant win at Anfield. Goals from the Brazilian, superb at each end of the field, Nicolò Savona and the exceptional Morgan Gibbs-White spurred a deserved victory for a squad that also secured a initial shutout in 20 division matches.

Liverpool's woes

The hosts, in comparison, were a mess as they suffered an eighth defeat in 11 games to slide into the bottom half of the table. Ineffective at set-plays, once more, impotent in offense, consistently, with Alexander Isak substituted after sixty-eight quiet period, and poor in defense, they struggled in all departments to yield to a second successive heavy loss.

Initial dominance lacking payoff

For the opening half-hour the home side held the advantage, the occasional break from the Forest attacker excepted, but the inability to turn promise into the hard currency of finishes hurt them significantly. Mac Allister was presented with an early opportunity from the forward's surge into the area only for Elliot Anderson to execute a excellent line save with his forehead. Mac Allister had a another effort deflected moments later while impressive control from Salah created another near-post opening for Kerkez. An opposition player just managed to disturb the defender into blazing over.

Set-play vulnerability strikes once more

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly criticized the team's susceptibility to counterattacks and set pieces now. There was further evidence for frustration when Forest opened the scoring through a blend of the two.

Dyche was shocked after Igor Jesus did not find the midfielder in an open area on the fast attack and allowed Ibrahima Konaté opportunity to clear. The ensuing corner sparked celebratory reactions in the away team's area, though, when Anderson's cross deflected off Virgil van Dijk to the defender and the centre-half fired an unbeatable finish from close range into the far corner. It brought reminders of the defender's chalked-off strike against City in the Forest's opener with Ndoye positioned in an offside in front of Liverpool's recovered goalkeeper the Brazilian.

VAR calls and dispute

Predictably, the the skipper was swift to point out the comparisons to the official, Madley. But unlike Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Ndoye made no clear action in front of the keeper and the score stood. The league clarified: "The initial ruling of goal was examined and verified by the assistant – with it considered that the player was outside of the sightline of the keeper and avoided an action that affected an defender."

Liverpool were saved by the referees and video review two minutes following when the striker thought he had added to Nottingham Forest's lead.

Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a poor day, made an feeble try to remove an the midfielder's delivery and directed the sphere against the Forest striker, who handled before slotting the net of Alisson's net. Madley, in contact with his linesman, disallowed the strike for a handball that several footage were unable to prove or deny. The Premier League stated: "The decision of invalid score was assessed and supported by the video assistant – with it considered that the player unintentionally touched the ball before scoring."

Second score increases lead

So much for the reprieve. Almost immediately of the restart Alexis Mac Allister was unable to cut out a pass towards the defender inside the Liverpool penalty area. The full-back evaded from his marker and set up Forest's second on a platter for partner defender the scorer, who picked out Alisson's roof of the net with a simple side-foot finish.

Tactical substitutions do not work

The manager took risks, replacing the defender with Hugo Ekitiké after the 55th minute and partnering the French forward next to Alexander Isak. This change persisted all of a short period before Alexander Isak was substituted following one more anonymous display. the winger and Ngumoha were also thrown into the hosts' offense but carelessness in possession and resolute opposition backline prevented the Reds at arm's length.

Concluding strike wraps up the result

The visitors displayed the finesse and cutting edge that Liverpool were lacking in the final third to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively