Liverpool facing turmoil as Forest dominate home ground for the second time with three-nil win

The away side's victory here in the prior year seemed an anomaly in an otherwise strong English top division home campaign for the Merseyside club. A second successive win this season, a decisively stronger victory under the Forest boss, was indicative of the challenges engulfing the faltering former winners.

Forest's superb performance

Forest were exemplary as they secured their largest win at Liverpool's home. Scores from the defender, outstanding at either side of the field, Savona and the exceptional the playmaker inspired a deserved win for a Forest side that also secured a first clean sheet in 20 top-flight matches.

The home side's struggles

Liverpool, in comparison, were a chaotic as they experienced an eighth defeat in 11 games to slide into the second tier of the table. Weak at set pieces, once more, impotent in offense, as before, with the striker replaced after 68 quiet moments, and defensively weak, they failed in each phase to succumb to a second successive heavy loss.

Initial dominance lacking payoff

For half an hour Liverpool held the advantage, the occasional counter from Morgan Gibbs-White aside, but the shortcoming to convert chances into the hard currency of finishes cost them dearly. Mac Allister was offered an early-on chance from Cody Gakpo's surge into the penalty area only for Anderson to produce a excellent goalline clearance with his forehead. He had a another effort blocked shortly after while dazzling control from the winger produced another near-post opening for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just succeeded to disturb the full-back into blazing over.

Set-play frailty strikes again

Liverpool's coach has often criticized his side's weakness to transitions and set-plays this season. There was new reason for frustration when Nottingham Forest scored first through a mix of the both aspects.

Sean Dyche was surprised after Jesus failed to pass to Nicolás Domínguez in an open area on the fast attack and gave the defender opportunity to intervene. The ensuing corner caused jubilant scenes in the away team's area, however, when Elliot Anderson's cross touched Virgil van Dijk to the defender and the defender fired an unbeatable strike from six yards into the back of the net. This evoked echoes of the defender's chalked-off strike against the champions in the visitors' opener with Dan Ndoye standing in an offside position in front of the home side's fit-again shot-stopper the Brazilian.

VAR decisions and debate

Predictably, the Van Dijk was prompt to highlight the similarities to the official, Andrew Madley. However, unlike the full-back at the Manchester, Dan Ndoye made no apparent gesture in front of the keeper and the strike remained. Officials confirmed: "The initial ruling of valid strike was checked and upheld by VAR – with it considered that the player was outside of the line of vision of Alisson and made no an move that affected an opponent."

The Reds were saved by the officiating team and VAR a short time later when Jesus thought he had increased the visitors' lead.

Konaté, who experienced a terrible afternoon, made an weak try to deal with an Ibrahim Sangaré's ball and turned the sphere against the attacker, who controlled before placing the bottom corner of Alisson's goal. Madley, in discussion with his assistant referee, disallowed the attempt for a handling that several footage were unable to verify or disprove. League officials announced: "The decision of invalid score was reviewed and upheld by VAR – with it judged that Igor Jesus accidentally controlled the sphere before scoring."

Second strike extends cushion

That was the end of the reprieve. Almost immediately of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister failed to cut out a delivery towards Williams inside the Liverpool 18-yard box. The former Liverpool defender turned from his marker and set up their next goal on a platter for partner full back Nicolò Savona, who picked out the keeper's roof of the net with a calm side-foot finish.

Tactical changes fail

Arne Slot took risks, replacing Ibrahima Konaté with Hugo Ekitiké after 55 minutes and using the France attacker with Alexander Isak. The tactical shift persisted for only a short period before Isak was replaced following another anonymous display. the winger and the youngster were additionally thrown into the Anfield's frontline but inefficiency in possession and sturdy Forest defending kept the Reds at bay.

Final blow seals the result

Forest displayed the finesse and cutting edge that the home team were lacking in the attacking phase to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively