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Nottingham Forest's success here the previous campaign appeared a one-off in an otherwise commanding English top division performances at Anfield for the Merseyside club. This recurrence in the current campaign, a much more emphatic victory under the Forest boss, was symptomatic of the issues afflicting the faltering former winners.

The visitors' superb showing

Forest were exemplary as they secured their biggest win at Anfield. Goals from the defender, excellent at both ends of the field, the full-back and the exceptional the playmaker inspired a deserved victory for a Forest side that also secured a first clean sheet in twenty division matches.

Liverpool's woes

Liverpool, on the other hand, were a disorganized as they endured an 8th setback in eleven fixtures to fall into the lower half of the league. Weak at set-plays, repeatedly, impotent in the final third, as before, with the striker withdrawn after 68 uninfluential minutes, and vulnerable at the back, they faltered in every area to yield to a consecutive heavy reverse.

Early control missing payoff

For the opening half-hour the home side enjoyed the advantage, the infrequent break from the Forest attacker excepted, but the shortcoming to capitalize on opportunities into the tangible reward of goals cost them dearly. Mac Allister was presented with an initial opening from Cody Gakpo's surge into the box only for Anderson to produce a excellent goalline clearance with his forehead. He had a follow-up attempt blocked moments later while impressive control from Mohamed Salah set up another close-range chance for Kerkez. The visiting defender just managed to disturb the defender into blazing over.

Dead-ball weakness hits repeatedly

The manager has frequently lamented Liverpool's vulnerability to fast breaks and set pieces now. He was given fresh cause for concern when Nottingham Forest opened the scoring through a mix of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was shocked after Jesus failed to release the midfielder in space on the counter and allowed Ibrahima Konaté the opening to intervene. The resulting set-piece sparked celebratory scenes in the away team's area, however, when Anderson's ball deflected off the captain to the defender and the centre-half fired an unbeatable shot from six yards into the far corner. It brought similarities of Van Dijk's chalked-off strike against Manchester City in the Forest's first goal with the forward standing in an offside position in front of Anfield's recovered goalkeeper the goalie.

VAR calls and controversy

Predictably, the Liverpool captain was quick to mention the parallels to the match official, the ref. But unlike Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Dan Ndoye made no clear gesture in front of the keeper and the score remained. Officials confirmed: "The on-field decision of goal was examined and verified by the video system – with it deemed that he was away from the view of the goalkeeper and did not make an action that impacted an opponent."

The home side were reprieved by the officiating team and VAR two minutes later when Jesus believed he had added to the visitors' lead.

The defender, who experienced a terrible afternoon, made an weak try to remove an the midfielder's ball and turned the sphere against the Forest striker, who handled before placing the bottom corner of Alisson's posts. The referee, in contact with his assistant, ruled out the effort for a handling that multiple replays found it hard to prove or refute. The Premier League stated: "The decision of disallowed strike was assessed and supported by the video assistant – with it judged that Jesus accidentally handled the ball before netting."

Another goal increases lead

So much for the let-off. Almost immediately of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister did not stop a delivery towards the defender inside the home 18-yard box. Williams evaded from his marker and laid Forest's second on a silver platter for teammate wing-back the scorer, who found Alisson's top corner with a composed placed shot.

Strategic changes fail

Liverpool's coach made changes, bringing off the defender with the forward after just before the hour and partnering the France striker alongside Isak. This change lasted for only less than a quarter-hour before the striker was withdrawn following one more anonymous performance. Chiesa and Ngumoha were further thrown into the Anfield's frontline but carelessness in possession and solid visitors' defense prevented the Reds at arm's length.

Final goal seals the outcome

The visitors demonstrated the precision and cutting edge that Liverpool were lacking in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively