Anfield's team in crisis as Forest dominate Anfield again with three-nil win

The away side's success at Anfield last season was a blip in an typically commanding Premier League performances at Anfield for Liverpool. This recurrence now, a decisively stronger success under the Forest boss, was indicative of the problems plaguing the faltering title holders.

The visitors' exemplary showing

Forest were brilliant as they recorded their biggest victory at the famous ground. Goals from the Brazilian, outstanding at each end of the pitch, Nicolò Savona and the magnificent Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a deserved win for a team that also secured a initial shutout in 20 division games.

Liverpool's difficulties

The hosts, on the other hand, were a chaotic as they suffered an eighth loss in eleven games to drop into the lower half of the standings. Poor at dead-ball situations, again, unproductive in offense, as before, with the striker replaced after sixty-eight anonymous period, and vulnerable at the back, they faltered in each phase to yield to a back-to-back 3-0 reverse.

Early control missing payoff

For 30 minutes the home side held the advantage, the sporadic attack from Gibbs-White aside, but the shortcoming to capitalize on opportunities into the tangible reward of goals proved costly. Mac Allister was presented with an initial opening from Cody Gakpo's run into the penalty area only for the Forest player to produce a brilliant desperate block with his forehead. He had a follow-up attempt blocked soon after while dazzling footwork from the winger set up another short-distance opportunity for the defender. The visiting defender just managed to disturb the defender into sending high.

Set-piece frailty afflicts once more

Liverpool's coach has frequently bemoaned his side's susceptibility to counterattacks and dead balls this season. He was given new reason for frustration when Nottingham Forest scored first through a mix of the each weakness.

The Forest manager was aghast after Jesus did not find the midfielder in space on the break and allowed Ibrahima Konaté opportunity to intervene. The resulting set-piece sparked celebratory reactions in the Forest dugout, nevertheless, when the midfielder's cross deflected off Van Dijk to Murillo and the defender fired an irresistible finish from close range into the opposite side. It brought similarities of Van Dijk's ruled out strike against City in the away team's initial score with Ndoye positioned in an offside position in front of Liverpool's recovered keeper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee decisions and dispute

As expected, the Liverpool captain was prompt to point out the parallels to the referee, Andrew Madley. However, unlike Andy Robertson at the City's ground, the forward made no obvious action in front of the goalkeeper and the score was given. The league clarified: "The referee's call of valid strike was reviewed and confirmed by the assistant – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the view of the goalkeeper and avoided an move that influenced an opponent."

The Reds were let off by the referees and VAR a short time after when Jesus believed he had doubled the visitors' advantage.

Konaté, who endured a terrible afternoon, made an weak attempt to remove an Ibrahim Sangaré's ball and directed the object against the attacker, who brought down before slotting the bottom corner of Alisson's posts. Andrew Madley, in communication with his linesman, disallowed the strike for a handball that several footage were unable to confirm or refute. The authority announced: "The ruling of disallowed strike was checked and supported by the system – with it judged that Jesus inadvertently touched the ball before scoring."

Second goal increases cushion

So much for the reprieve. Within seconds of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister did not stop a delivery towards the defender inside the home 18-yard box. The full-back turned from his marker and set up their next goal on a silver platter for partner defender Savona, who found the keeper's roof of the net with a calm accurate strike.

Managerial substitutions do not work

Arne Slot made changes, bringing off the defender with the forward after just before the hour and pairing the French striker with the Swede. The tactical shift persisted for only a short period before the striker was substituted following one more anonymous performance. Federico Chiesa and the youngster were further introduced to the hosts' offense but sloppiness in play and sturdy opposition backline prevented the home side at bay.

Final goal seals the victory

Nottingham Forest displayed the finesse and incisiveness that the hosts were without in the opposition half to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively