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Nottingham Forest's win here in the prior year appeared a one-off in an usually dominant English top division home campaign for the Merseyside club. A second successive win this season, a much more emphatic victory under Sean Dyche, was a clear sign of the problems afflicting the faltering former winners.

Forest's superb performance

Nottingham Forest proved exemplary as they secured their biggest win at Liverpool's home. Goals from Murillo, superb at each end of the pitch, the full-back and the superb Gibbs-White led to a merited success for a squad that also kept a first clean sheet in 20 top-flight matches.

Anfield's difficulties

Liverpool, in comparison, were a mess as they endured an eighth loss in eleven fixtures to drop into the lower half of the standings. Ineffective at set pieces, again, unproductive in the final third, as before, with Alexander Isak substituted after sixty-eight anonymous minutes, and vulnerable at the back, they faltered in every area to yield to a consecutive 3-0 reverse.

Early control missing result

For half an hour the Reds maintained the upper hand, the sporadic counter from the Forest attacker aside, but the inability to capitalize on opportunities into the hard currency of finishes hurt them significantly. the midfielder was given an early-on opening from Gakpo's run into the area only for Elliot Anderson to execute a brilliant line save with his head. Mac Allister had a second shot deflected moments later while skilful skill from the winger set up another near-post opening for the defender. A Forest defender just succeeded to put off the back into blazing over.

Dead-ball vulnerability strikes again

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly lamented the team's vulnerability to counterattacks and dead balls this season. He was given further evidence for complaint when the visitors took the lead through a mix of the both aspects.

Dyche was surprised after Jesus did not pass to the midfielder in an open area on the break and allowed Konaté opportunity to intervene. The ensuing set-piece triggered celebratory reactions in the visitors' bench, however, when Elliot Anderson's ball glanced off the captain to the defender and the central defender hammered an unbeatable strike from inside the box into the back of the net. There were echoes of Van Dijk's disallowed finish against the champions in the Forest's opener with Dan Ndoye located in an offside in front of the home side's fit-again goalkeeper Alisson.

The review system rulings and controversy

Unsurprisingly, the Van Dijk was prompt to point out the comparisons to the match official, Madley. But unlike the full-back at the Etihad Stadium, Ndoye made no clear gesture in front of the keeper and the score stood. Officials confirmed: "The on-field decision of a score was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that he was away from the view of the keeper and avoided an interference that influenced an player."

The Reds were let off by the officiating team and video review 120 seconds after when Igor Jesus believed he had added to Nottingham Forest's cushion.

Konaté, who experienced a dreadful afternoon, made an weak effort to deal with an Sangaré's cross and deflected the ball against the Forest striker, who brought down before slotting the net of Alisson's posts. The referee, in discussion with his assistant, ruled out the strike for a handball that multiple footage were unable to verify or disprove. The authority stated: "The decision of disallowed strike was checked and upheld by the video assistant – with it deemed that Igor Jesus unintentionally touched the sphere before finishing."

Follow-up strike extends advantage

That was the end of the reprieve. Moments of the resumption Mac Allister was unable to cut out a pass towards the defender inside the Anfield box. Williams evaded from his marker and presented Forest's second on a silver platter for fellow full back the scorer, who located the goalkeeper's upper corner with a composed placed shot.

Tactical adjustments prove ineffective

Arne Slot made changes, substituting the defender with Ekitiké after the 55th minute and partnering the France attacker next to Alexander Isak. The tactical shift continued just less than a quarter-hour before Alexander Isak was replaced following a further ineffective showing. the winger and the youngster were further thrown into the Anfield's frontline but carelessness in ball control and resolute visitors' defense prevented the home side at bay.

Late goal confirms the outcome

Nottingham Forest showed the skill and penetration that the home team were missing in the opposition half to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively