Liverpool in crisis as the visitors dominate their fortress for the second time with three-nil win

Forest's success at Anfield in the prior year seemed an anomaly in an typically dominant Premier League performances at Anfield for Liverpool. A second successive win in the current campaign, a decisively stronger success under the Forest boss, was indicative of the problems afflicting the declining champions.

Forest's exemplary performance

The team was brilliant as they secured their biggest triumph at the famous ground. Goals from the defender, outstanding at both ends of the field, Savona and the superb Gibbs-White led to a merited win for a squad that also maintained a initial shutout in 20 Premier League matches.

Liverpool's struggles

The Reds, by contrast, were a chaotic as they experienced an eighth defeat in 11 matches to slide into the lower half of the standings. Weak at set-plays, repeatedly, ineffectual in offense, as before, with the striker substituted after 68 quiet period, and defensively weak, they failed in every area to yield to a consecutive heavy reverse.

Initial dominance missing reward

For 30 minutes the Reds held the initiative, the sporadic counter from Gibbs-White apart, but the inability to capitalize on opportunities into the tangible reward of goals hurt them significantly. Mac Allister was presented with an early-on chance from the forward's surge into the area only for Anderson to execute a brilliant line save with his forehead. He had a second shot blocked shortly after while dazzling footwork from Mohamed Salah produced another near-post opportunity for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just did enough to disturb the full-back into sending high.

Set-play frailty hits again

Arne Slot has repeatedly lamented the team's weakness to counterattacks and dead balls now. There was new reason for complaint when Forest scored first through a mix of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was aghast after the forward was unable to pass to the midfielder in an open area on the counter and allowed Konaté the opening to intercept. The ensuing corner caused celebratory reactions in the Forest dugout, nevertheless, when the midfielder's ball glanced off Virgil van Dijk to Murillo and the centre-half drilled an unbeatable shot from six yards into the back of the net. This evoked similarities of the defender's disallowed goal against Manchester City in the away team's initial score with Ndoye located in an illegal position in front of the home side's fit-again goalkeeper the Brazilian.

The review system decisions and controversy

Unsurprisingly, the Van Dijk was quick to point out the comparisons to the match official, Madley. But unlike Robertson at the City's ground, the forward made no clear action in front of the keeper and the score remained. The Premier League confirmed: "The referee's call of goal was examined and confirmed by the assistant – with it deemed that he was outside of the view of the keeper and avoided an move that influenced an player."

The Reds were let off by the referees and the system a short time later when Jesus believed he had doubled Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a terrible afternoon, made an weak effort to deal with an Ibrahim Sangaré's cross and deflected the sphere against the forward, who controlled before finding the bottom corner of the keeper's posts. Madley, in contact with his assistant referee, chalked off the strike for a illegal use of hand that multiple footage were unable to prove or deny. League officials announced: "The decision of disallowed strike was assessed and confirmed by the system – with it judged that Igor Jesus accidentally controlled the sphere before finishing."

Follow-up strike extends advantage

So much for the reprieve. Moments of the resumption Mac Allister failed to intercept a pass towards the defender inside the Liverpool box. The former Liverpool defender turned from his defender and laid the visitors' second on a plate for partner defender the scorer, who picked out Alisson's upper corner with a composed placed shot.

Tactical substitutions fail

The manager went for broke, bringing off Konaté with Ekitiké after the 55th minute and partnering the French attacker next to the Swede. This change persisted just a short period before Alexander Isak was substituted following one more quiet display. Federico Chiesa and Ngumoha were further introduced to the Anfield's frontline but inefficiency in possession and solid Forest defending held the home side at arm's length.

Late goal confirms the victory

The visitors demonstrated the finesse and cutting edge that the hosts were without in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively