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Forest's win on Merseyside last season appeared a one-off in an typically dominant Premier League performances at Anfield for the Merseyside club. This recurrence in the current campaign, a much more emphatic victory under their manager, was a clear sign of the problems plaguing the struggling former winners.

Nottingham Forest's exemplary showing

Forest were exemplary as they achieved their largest victory at the famous ground. Strikes from the defender, outstanding at either side of the pitch, the full-back and the magnificent Gibbs-White led to a merited win for a Forest side that also secured a initial shutout in 20 Premier League matches.

The home side's woes

The Reds, in comparison, were a disorganized as they endured an 8th loss in eleven games to drop into the second tier of the table. Poor at set pieces, repeatedly, unproductive in the final third, again, with the striker substituted after sixty-eight anonymous period, and vulnerable at the back, they failed in all departments to succumb to a second successive 3-0 loss.

Opening dominance without result

For the opening half-hour Liverpool enjoyed the upper hand, the occasional attack from the Forest attacker excepted, but the inability to capitalize on opportunities into the hard currency of scores cost them dearly. Mac Allister was given an early-on opportunity from the forward's drive into the box only for Elliot Anderson to deliver a excellent desperate block with his head. Mac Allister had a follow-up attempt stopped shortly after while impressive skill from Salah set up another close-range chance for the defender. An opposition player just did enough to disturb the full-back into firing over.

Dead-ball vulnerability hits once more

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly criticized the team's susceptibility to fast breaks and set-plays this season. He was given further evidence for concern when Nottingham Forest took the lead through a combination of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was surprised after Igor Jesus failed to find the midfielder in space on the break and presented the defender a chance to clear. The following corner kick sparked ecstatic scenes in the Forest dugout, however, when Anderson's cross touched Virgil van Dijk to the goalscorer and the central defender fired an irresistible shot from inside the box into the back of the net. It brought reminders of the defender's ruled out strike against the champions in the Forest's opener with Ndoye standing in an offside position in front of Anfield's returning shot-stopper the Brazilian.

VAR rulings and controversy

Unsurprisingly, the the skipper was prompt to mention the comparisons to the official, Andrew Madley. In contrast to Andy Robertson at the City's ground, Dan Ndoye made no apparent action in front of Alisson and the score remained. The league confirmed: "The initial ruling of a score was checked and verified by the assistant – with it considered that the player was not in the sightline of the goalkeeper and made no an move that affected an player."

The Reds were saved by the officiating team and video review a short time later when Jesus believed he had doubled Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a dreadful afternoon, made an unconvincing attempt to remove an the midfielder's ball and deflected the sphere against the forward, who controlled before slotting the lower corner of the keeper's posts. Andrew Madley, in contact with his assistant, ruled out the strike for a handball that multiple reviews found it hard to verify or disprove. The authority stated: "The decision of invalid score was assessed and supported by VAR – with it judged that Jesus accidentally touched the object before scoring."

Second strike increases cushion

That was the end of the let-off. Within seconds of the resumption Alexis Mac Allister did not stop a ball towards Neco Williams inside the home box. Williams spun away from his opponent and set up their next goal on a plate for teammate full back Savona, who found the keeper's upper corner with a calm accurate strike.

Strategic adjustments do not work

The manager made changes, substituting Konaté with Ekitiké after 55 minutes and partnering the French striker with Isak. This change persisted all of less than a quarter-hour before Isak was substituted following a further quiet showing. Federico Chiesa and Ngumoha were additionally added to the Liverpool attack but inefficiency in possession and solid Forest defending prevented the Reds at distance.

Late strike seals the victory

Nottingham Forest displayed the finesse and penetration that Liverpool were missing in the final third to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively