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The away side's victory on Merseyside in the prior year was a blip in an otherwise commanding English top division home record for the Merseyside club. Their repeat in the current campaign, a much more emphatic success under Sean Dyche, was a clear sign of the issues afflicting the struggling former winners.

Nottingham Forest's superb performance

Forest were brilliant as they achieved their largest win at Anfield. Scores from the Brazilian, outstanding at either side of the pitch, Nicolò Savona and the superb the playmaker spurred a merited win for a squad that also secured a first clean sheet in 20 Premier League games.

Anfield's struggles

Liverpool, in comparison, were a chaotic as they suffered an eighth loss in eleven fixtures to fall into the lower half of the league. Poor at set pieces, repeatedly, ineffectual in offense, consistently, with the striker withdrawn after 68 uninfluential period, and vulnerable at the back, they failed in all departments to fall to a consecutive 3-0 loss.

Opening pressure missing reward

For the opening half-hour Liverpool maintained the advantage, the infrequent break from the Forest attacker aside, but the shortcoming to capitalize on opportunities into the tangible reward of scores proved costly. the midfielder was presented with an initial chance from Cody Gakpo's drive into the penalty area only for Elliot Anderson to execute a excellent desperate block with his head. He had a second shot stopped moments later while skilful footwork from Salah created another short-distance chance for Kerkez. A Forest defender just did enough to put off the back into firing over.

Dead-ball frailty hits again

Liverpool's coach has often criticized his side's vulnerability to fast breaks and set-plays this season. This provided further evidence for concern when Forest opened the scoring through a combination of the both aspects.

Sean Dyche was aghast after Jesus did not pass to the midfielder in space on the counter and presented the defender a chance to clear. The following corner kick caused jubilant reactions in the away team's area, though, when the midfielder's delivery glanced off Van Dijk to Murillo and the centre-half hammered an unbeatable strike from inside the box into the far corner. This evoked echoes of the captain's ruled out finish against Manchester City in the visitors' initial score with the forward located in an offside in front of Liverpool's returning goalkeeper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee decisions and debate

Predictably, the the skipper was quick to highlight the comparisons to the official, Madley. However, unlike Robertson at the City's ground, the forward made no apparent action in front of the keeper and the strike stood. The league clarified: "The initial ruling of valid strike was reviewed and confirmed by VAR – with it judged that the player was away from the sightline of the keeper and made no an move that affected an defender."

The Reds were saved by the referees and VAR two minutes later when the striker thought he had increased Nottingham Forest's lead.

Ibrahima Konaté, who suffered a dreadful day, made an feeble attempt to clear an the midfielder's ball and directed the object against the forward, who controlled before slotting the bottom corner of the keeper's posts. Madley, in communication with his linesman, ruled out the effort for a handball that several replays found it hard to confirm or deny. League officials announced: "The decision of no goal was assessed and supported by the video assistant – with it considered that Jesus accidentally handled the sphere before scoring."

Second score increases advantage

That was the end of the reprieve. Moments of the kick-off the midfielder was unable to stop a ball towards the defender inside the Liverpool penalty area. The full-back spun away from his marker and laid the visitors' second on a silver platter for teammate wing-back Nicolò Savona, who found the goalkeeper's top corner with a calm placed shot.

Strategic adjustments fail

Liverpool's coach made changes, replacing Ibrahima Konaté with the forward after just before the hour and using the Les Bleus forward with Alexander Isak. This change persisted just 13 minutes before Isak was replaced following a further anonymous showing. Chiesa and the youngster were additionally introduced to the Liverpool attack but inefficiency in ball control and resolute opposition backline prevented the home side at bay.

Concluding blow wraps up the result

Forest demonstrated the precision and incisiveness that the hosts were missing in the attacking phase to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively