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Forest's success here last season seemed an anomaly in an otherwise commanding Premier League home campaign for Liverpool. This recurrence this season, a much more emphatic success under their manager, was indicative of the problems plaguing the declining champions.

The visitors' superb showing

Nottingham Forest proved exemplary as they recorded their most significant win at Anfield. Goals from the Brazilian, outstanding at both ends of the pitch, the full-back and the magnificent the playmaker spurred a well-earned victory for a Forest side that also secured a first clean sheet in twenty Premier League games.

Liverpool's struggles

The Reds, on the other hand, were a chaotic as they experienced an 8th loss in eleven matches to slide into the bottom half of the league. Poor at set pieces, again, unproductive in attack, consistently, with the striker substituted after sixty-eight uninfluential minutes, and vulnerable at the back, they faltered in every area to fall to a second successive 3-0 loss.

Initial pressure lacking result

For the opening half-hour the Reds enjoyed the advantage, the occasional attack from Morgan Gibbs-White excepted, but the shortcoming to convert chances into the tangible reward of goals proved costly. the midfielder was offered an early opening from Gakpo's drive into the area only for Elliot Anderson to deliver a brilliant goalline clearance with his forehead. He had a follow-up attempt deflected soon after while skilful footwork from Mohamed Salah produced another near-post opportunity for Kerkez. An opposition player just managed to put off the back into firing over.

Set-play weakness hits once more

Arne Slot has repeatedly criticized his side's vulnerability to fast breaks and dead balls this season. This provided further evidence for frustration when Nottingham Forest took the lead through a blend of the each weakness.

The Forest manager was shocked after Jesus was unable to release Domínguez in room on the counter and gave the defender the opening to clear. The resulting corner triggered jubilant scenes in the Forest dugout, though, when the midfielder's delivery touched the captain to Murillo and the central defender hammered an irresistible finish from close range into the opposite side. There were echoes of the defender's ruled out goal against the champions in the away team's opener with the forward located in an illegal position in front of Anfield's returning goalkeeper the goalie.

The review system decisions and dispute

As expected, the the skipper was quick to mention the parallels to the match official, the ref. However, unlike the full-back at the Etihad Stadium, the forward made no apparent action in front of the keeper and the goal stood. The league confirmed: "The initial ruling of valid strike was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it considered that Ndoye was away from the sightline of the keeper and avoided an interference that influenced an opponent."

Liverpool were reprieved by the match officials and VAR 120 seconds later when the striker believed he had added to Nottingham Forest's lead.

Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a poor match, made an unconvincing effort to remove an Ibrahim Sangaré's ball and directed the ball against the attacker, who controlled before placing the net of Alisson's goal. Madley, in contact with his linesman, chalked off the attempt for a handball that several replays found it hard to confirm or deny. The Premier League said: "The referee's call of disallowed strike was checked and upheld by the system – with it considered that Jesus inadvertently handled the ball before scoring."

Another goal widens cushion

That was the end of the respite. Moments of the kick-off the midfielder did not cut out a delivery towards the defender inside the Anfield box. The former Liverpool defender turned from his marker and presented their next goal on a plate for teammate wing-back Nicolò Savona, who picked out Alisson's top corner with a simple side-foot finish.

Strategic changes fail

Liverpool's coach took risks, replacing the defender with Hugo Ekitiké after 55 minutes and partnering the Les Bleus attacker with Isak. The tactical shift continued for only a short period before Alexander Isak was withdrawn following a further anonymous performance. Federico Chiesa and the youngster were additionally introduced to the Liverpool attack but inefficiency in play and resolute visitors' defense held the home side at distance.

Late blow seals the result

Nottingham Forest demonstrated the precision and cutting edge that the home team were missing in the opposition half to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively