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Nottingham Forest's win at Anfield last season seemed an anomaly in an typically commanding Premier League home record for Liverpool. Their repeat this season, a decisively stronger success under their manager, was a clear sign of the issues engulfing the struggling former winners.

Forest's exemplary performance

Forest were exemplary as they secured their largest victory at Liverpool's home. Goals from the defender, excellent at each end of the playing surface, Nicolò Savona and the superb the playmaker spurred a merited victory for a Forest side that also maintained a initial shutout in 20 Premier League games.

Liverpool's woes

The hosts, by contrast, were a chaotic as they suffered an 8th loss in eleven fixtures to drop into the lower half of the standings. Ineffective at set pieces, again, unproductive in the final third, again, with Isak withdrawn after 68 quiet minutes, and defensively weak, they failed in every area to succumb to a second successive heavy defeat.

Opening dominance lacking result

For the opening half-hour the Reds enjoyed the upper hand, the infrequent counter from Gibbs-White apart, but the inability to convert chances into the actual outcome of finishes proved costly. Mac Allister was given an initial opening from Gakpo's drive into the penalty area only for Anderson to execute a brilliant goalline clearance with his skull. He had a another effort blocked shortly after while impressive footwork from Salah set up another near-post opportunity for Kerkez. A Forest defender just did enough to pressure the full-back into firing over.

Set-piece frailty strikes repeatedly

Arne Slot has frequently criticized the team's vulnerability to counterattacks and set-plays now. This provided fresh cause for concern when Forest took the lead through a blend of the two.

Sean Dyche was shocked after Jesus did not release Nicolás Domínguez in space on the break and allowed Konaté a chance to intervene. The ensuing corner kick caused jubilant scenes in the away team's area, however, when Elliot Anderson's delivery glanced off Virgil van Dijk to the goalscorer and the central defender hammered an unstoppable finish from six yards into the far corner. This evoked reminders of Van Dijk's ruled out finish against City in the visitors' opener with Ndoye standing in an offside position in front of the home side's returning shot-stopper the Brazilian.

VAR rulings and dispute

As expected, the Van Dijk was quick to point out the comparisons to the official, Madley. In contrast to Andy Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, the forward made no apparent action in front of Alisson and the goal stood. The Premier League clarified: "The on-field decision of a score was reviewed and verified by the video system – with it considered that Ndoye was away from the line of vision of Alisson and made no an interference that influenced an player."

The home side were let off by the referees and VAR a short time following when Igor Jesus thought he had increased the visitors' advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who suffered a terrible day, made an weak try to remove an Sangaré's delivery and deflected the ball against the Forest striker, who handled before finding the lower corner of Alisson's goal. Andrew Madley, in communication with his linesman, disallowed the attempt for a handball that various replays were unable to confirm or refute. The Premier League stated: "The referee's call of invalid score was checked and confirmed by the video assistant – with it judged that the player accidentally handled the sphere before netting."

Another score increases lead

Any hope from the reprieve. Almost immediately of the kick-off the midfielder was unable to cut out a pass towards the defender inside the home penalty area. The former Liverpool defender spun away from his opponent and laid Forest's second on a plate for fellow wing-back Nicolò Savona, who located Alisson's top corner with a composed side-foot finish.

Tactical changes do not work

Arne Slot took risks, replacing Konaté with Hugo Ekitiké after just before the hour and partnering the French attacker next to the Swede. The tactical shift lasted for only less than a quarter-hour before Isak was replaced following another anonymous performance. the winger and Ngumoha were additionally thrown into the Liverpool attack but sloppiness in possession and sturdy visitors' defense kept the Reds at arm's length.

Final blow wraps up the result

Forest showed the skill and penetration that the hosts were lacking in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively