🔗 Share this article

Nottingham Forest's victory at Anfield last season was a blip in an usually dominant Premier League performances at Anfield for the hosts. This recurrence now, a far more convincing triumph under the Forest boss, was indicative of the challenges afflicting the struggling title holders.

Forest's exemplary performance

Nottingham Forest proved impressive as they achieved their biggest victory at the famous ground. Strikes from the defender, excellent at each end of the field, the full-back and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a deserved win for a team that also maintained a maid clean sheet in twenty division matches.

Liverpool's difficulties

The Reds, in comparison, were a mess as they endured an 8th loss in eleven matches to fall into the lower half of the league. Ineffective at dead-ball situations, again, unproductive in offense, consistently, with Alexander Isak replaced after sixty-eight quiet minutes, and vulnerable at the back, they failed in all departments to succumb to a second successive heavy defeat.

Early control missing reward

For the opening half-hour Liverpool enjoyed the upper hand, the sporadic attack from the Forest attacker excepted, but the shortcoming to convert chances into the tangible reward of finishes proved costly. Mac Allister was given an initial opening from Gakpo's drive into the box only for Elliot Anderson to produce a excellent goalline clearance with his head. He had a another effort blocked soon after while impressive control from Mohamed Salah produced another short-distance opening for Kerkez. The visiting defender just did enough to put off the back into firing over.

Set-piece frailty hits once more

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly criticized his side's vulnerability to transitions and dead balls in the current campaign. This provided further evidence for concern when Forest scored first through a mix of the each weakness.

The Forest manager was shocked after Igor Jesus was unable to pass to the midfielder in room on the fast attack and gave Ibrahima Konaté the opening to intercept. The ensuing set-piece sparked celebratory moments in the Forest dugout, though, when Elliot Anderson's cross deflected off Van Dijk to the defender and the defender drilled an irresistible finish from six yards into the opposite side. It brought echoes of Van Dijk's ruled out goal against Manchester City in the away team's opener with Ndoye standing in an offside in front of the home side's recovered keeper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee calls and dispute

Predictably, the Liverpool captain was swift to highlight the similarities to the referee, the ref. In contrast to Robertson at the City's ground, the forward made no obvious action in front of the goalkeeper and the goal remained. The league stated: "The referee's call of a score was examined and verified by the assistant – with it judged that Ndoye was outside of the sightline of Alisson and avoided an interference that affected an opponent."

The Reds were let off by the officiating team and video review two minutes after when Igor Jesus thought he had doubled Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a terrible day, made an unconvincing effort to remove an Ibrahim Sangaré's delivery and turned the sphere against the forward, who controlled before placing the lower corner of the goalkeeper's posts. Andrew Madley, in discussion with his assistant referee, disallowed the attempt for a handball that various reviews were unable to verify or refute. The Premier League stated: "The referee's call of invalid score was reviewed and supported by the system – with it deemed that Igor Jesus inadvertently handled the ball before scoring."

Second goal increases lead

Any hope from the respite. Within seconds of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister failed to intercept a delivery towards Neco Williams inside the home 18-yard box. Williams spun away from his defender and set up their next goal on a plate for teammate full back Nicolò Savona, who picked out Alisson's top corner with a composed accurate strike.

Tactical changes do not work

Arne Slot made changes, replacing Ibrahima Konaté with Ekitiké after just before the hour and partnering the France striker with the Swede. The tactical shift continued just a short period before Alexander Isak was substituted following a further ineffective showing. Federico Chiesa and Ngumoha were also added to the Anfield's frontline but sloppiness in possession and solid visitors' defense kept the home side at distance.

Concluding blow wraps up the victory

Forest demonstrated the skill and incisiveness that the home team were without in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively