Liverpool in turmoil as the visitors conquer home ground once more with a convincing triumph

Nottingham Forest's victory on Merseyside the previous campaign was a blip in an usually commanding English top division performances at Anfield for the Merseyside club. A second successive win in the current campaign, a decisively stronger triumph under Sean Dyche, was indicative of the issues plaguing the struggling title holders.

The visitors' outstanding performance

Forest were brilliant as they secured their biggest win at Liverpool's home. Strikes from the defender, superb at either side of the field, Savona and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a deserved win for a team that also kept a maid clean sheet in twenty top-flight games.

Anfield's woes

Liverpool, in comparison, were a disorganized as they suffered an 8th defeat in eleven fixtures to fall into the second tier of the standings. Weak at set-plays, repeatedly, unproductive in offense, consistently, with Alexander Isak substituted after 68 uninfluential period, and vulnerable at the back, they failed in every area to succumb to a back-to-back 3-0 defeat.

Early control missing reward

For half an hour the Reds enjoyed the initiative, the occasional attack from Morgan Gibbs-White apart, but the failure to convert chances into the actual outcome of goals proved costly. Alexis Mac Allister was given an initial opportunity from Cody Gakpo's drive into the box only for Anderson to execute a excellent goalline clearance with his skull. He had a another effort deflected shortly after while dazzling footwork from the winger produced another short-distance chance for the defender. An opposition player just succeeded to disturb the defender into sending high.

Set-piece frailty afflicts again

The manager has frequently lamented the team's susceptibility to counterattacks and dead balls this season. This provided fresh cause for concern when the visitors scored first through a mix of the two.

Sean Dyche was aghast after the forward did not release Domínguez in space on the fast attack and gave Ibrahima Konaté the opening to clear. The ensuing corner sparked ecstatic scenes in the Forest dugout, nevertheless, when Anderson's ball glanced off Virgil van Dijk to the defender and the central defender drilled an irresistible finish from close range into the opposite side. It brought reminders of the defender's ruled out finish against Manchester City in the away team's first goal with Dan Ndoye positioned in an offside in front of the home side's recovered shot-stopper the Brazilian.

VAR decisions and controversy

Unsurprisingly, the the skipper was quick to point out the comparisons to the referee, Madley. In contrast to Andy Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Dan Ndoye made no clear movement in front of the keeper and the strike remained. The Premier League confirmed: "The on-field decision of valid strike was examined and upheld by VAR – with it considered that he was away from the line of vision of Alisson and avoided an interference that affected an opponent."

Liverpool were let off by the officiating team and video review 120 seconds after when the striker was convinced he had increased Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a dreadful day, made an unconvincing attempt to deal with an Sangaré's cross and directed the object against the attacker, who controlled before placing the lower corner of the goalkeeper's posts. Madley, in discussion with his linesman, disallowed the attempt for a handling that several replays struggled to confirm or refute. League officials announced: "The referee's call of no goal was checked and upheld by the video assistant – with it considered that the player accidentally handled the sphere before scoring."

Second strike widens advantage

So much for the let-off. Moments of the restart Alexis Mac Allister failed to stop a delivery towards Neco Williams inside the Anfield 18-yard box. The former Liverpool defender spun away from his marker and laid Forest's second on a silver platter for fellow wing-back Nicolò Savona, who found Alisson's roof of the net with a calm placed shot.

Tactical adjustments prove ineffective

Liverpool's coach took risks, substituting Ibrahima Konaté with Ekitiké after just before the hour and using the France striker with Isak. This change continued all of a short period before Isak was replaced following another anonymous display. Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were additionally thrown into the Anfield's frontline but carelessness in ball control and resolute opposition backline held the home side at bay.

Concluding strike confirms the result

Forest displayed the finesse and incisiveness that the home team were lacking in the final third to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively