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Forest's victory on Merseyside in the prior year appeared a one-off in an usually dominant top-flight performances at Anfield for the hosts. Their repeat this season, a much more emphatic success under their manager, was symptomatic of the issues plaguing the struggling title holders.

The visitors' outstanding display

The team was exemplary as they recorded their biggest win at the famous ground. Goals from Murillo, excellent at either side of the playing surface, Savona and the magnificent Gibbs-White spurred a deserved success for a squad that also secured a first clean sheet in twenty Premier League matches.

The home side's struggles

The Reds, in comparison, were a disorganized as they suffered an eighth defeat in 11 matches to drop into the bottom half of the league. Poor at set-plays, once more, impotent in the final third, again, with the striker substituted after sixty-eight quiet period, and vulnerable at the back, they failed in all departments to yield to a consecutive three-nil loss.

Opening pressure missing reward

For half an hour the Reds enjoyed the advantage, the infrequent break from Morgan Gibbs-White apart, but the failure to capitalize on opportunities into the hard currency of goals proved costly. the midfielder was given an early chance from Cody Gakpo's drive into the penalty area only for the Forest player to deliver a brilliant line save with his skull. The Liverpool midfielder had a second shot deflected soon after while impressive skill from Salah set up another short-distance opening for the defender. An opposition player just succeeded to disturb the back into sending high.

Dead-ball vulnerability afflicts repeatedly

Arne Slot has repeatedly criticized the team's susceptibility to transitions and dead balls in the current campaign. There was new reason for frustration when Nottingham Forest took the lead through a blend of the each weakness.

Dyche was aghast after the forward failed to pass to Nicolás Domínguez in space on the break and allowed the defender the opening to clear. The ensuing set-piece sparked celebratory reactions in the away team's area, however, when the midfielder's delivery glanced off Van Dijk to the defender and the centre-half drilled an unstoppable strike from inside the box into the opposite side. This evoked echoes of the defender's disallowed goal against City in the visitors' opener with the forward located in an illegal position in front of Anfield's fit-again shot-stopper the goalie.

VAR rulings and controversy

Predictably, the the skipper was prompt to point out the parallels to the match official, Madley. But unlike the full-back at the City's ground, Ndoye made no obvious movement in front of the goalkeeper and the strike stood. The league confirmed: "The referee's call of goal was checked and upheld by the video system – with it deemed that Ndoye was outside of the sightline of the goalkeeper and made no an action that influenced an defender."

Liverpool were saved by the officiating team and VAR a short time after when Igor Jesus believed he had added to Nottingham Forest's lead.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a terrible day, made an weak try to deal with an the midfielder's ball and directed the ball against the attacker, who controlled before placing the bottom corner of Alisson's posts. Andrew Madley, in discussion with his assistant referee, ruled out the effort for a handball that several replays struggled to confirm or refute. League officials said: "The referee's call of disallowed strike was assessed and confirmed by the video assistant – with it deemed that the player unintentionally handled the object before scoring."

Second strike widens lead

So much for the respite. Within seconds of the kick-off Mac Allister was unable to stop a delivery towards the defender inside the home 18-yard box. The former Liverpool defender turned from his defender and laid the visitors' second on a silver platter for fellow wing-back Nicolò Savona, who picked out Alisson's roof of the net with a composed placed shot.

Strategic changes do not work

Liverpool's coach took risks, substituting Ibrahima Konaté with Ekitiké after just before the hour and pairing the French forward next to the Swede. The tactical shift persisted just less than a quarter-hour before Isak was substituted following another ineffective performance. the winger and the youngster were further added to the Anfield's frontline but inefficiency in ball control and resolute opposition backline prevented the hosts at bay.

Concluding goal seals the victory

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