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The away side's victory at Anfield last season seemed an anomaly in an typically dominant top-flight home record for Liverpool. A second successive win this season, a far more convincing success under the Forest boss, was a clear sign of the challenges afflicting the faltering former winners.

The visitors' superb display

The team was impressive as they achieved their most significant win at Anfield. Goals from Murillo, outstanding at either side of the field, Nicolò Savona and the superb the playmaker inspired a deserved victory for a Forest side that also maintained a initial shutout in 20 top-flight games.

Liverpool's difficulties

Liverpool, on the other hand, were a mess as they experienced an eighth loss in eleven fixtures to drop into the second tier of the standings. Ineffective at set pieces, again, ineffectual in the final third, consistently, with Isak replaced after 68 anonymous minutes, and vulnerable at the back, they failed in every area to yield to a consecutive 3-0 loss.

Early pressure lacking result

For half an hour the Reds held the advantage, the infrequent counter from Gibbs-White excepted, but the failure to convert chances into the tangible reward of finishes cost them dearly. Alexis Mac Allister was offered an early opportunity from the forward's surge into the area only for Anderson to deliver a excellent goalline clearance with his head. The Liverpool midfielder had a second shot deflected shortly after while dazzling skill from Mohamed Salah produced another close-range chance for Kerkez. An opposition player just managed to put off the defender into blazing over.

Dead-ball frailty hits again

Arne Slot has frequently bemoaned the team's vulnerability to fast breaks and dead balls in the current campaign. He was given new reason for concern when Nottingham Forest scored first through a blend of the two.

The Forest manager was shocked after Jesus failed to find Nicolás Domínguez in an open area on the fast attack and allowed Ibrahima Konaté a chance to intervene. The ensuing set-piece caused ecstatic reactions in the away team's area, nevertheless, when the midfielder's delivery touched Van Dijk to the defender and the defender hammered an unbeatable shot from six yards into the back of the net. It brought similarities of the captain's ruled out finish against the champions in the visitors' first goal with the forward located in an offside in front of the home side's returning shot-stopper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee calls and dispute

Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool captain was swift to point out the comparisons to the match official, the ref. However, unlike Andy Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Dan Ndoye made no obvious action in front of the goalkeeper and the strike stood. The league clarified: "The on-field decision of valid strike was examined and confirmed by the assistant – with it judged that Ndoye was not in the sightline of the goalkeeper and avoided an interference that affected an opponent."

Liverpool were saved by the referees and video review 120 seconds later when the striker believed he had increased Nottingham Forest's cushion.

Ibrahima Konaté, who suffered a dreadful day, made an feeble attempt to remove an Ibrahim Sangaré's delivery and turned the object against the Forest striker, who controlled before finding the bottom corner of the keeper's net. Andrew Madley, in discussion with his linesman, disallowed the attempt for a illegal use of hand that several footage found it hard to verify or refute. The authority announced: "The decision of disallowed strike was assessed and confirmed by the system – with it considered that the player accidentally controlled the object before netting."

Follow-up strike extends cushion

So much for the respite. Moments of the resumption Mac Allister failed to cut out a ball towards the defender inside the home box. The former Liverpool defender spun away from his opponent and laid Forest's second on a plate for teammate full back Savona, who found the goalkeeper's roof of the net with a composed placed shot.

Tactical adjustments prove ineffective

The manager went for broke, bringing off Ibrahima Konaté with Hugo Ekitiké after 55 minutes and using the French striker next to Isak. The tactical shift lasted for only 13 minutes before the striker was withdrawn following a further quiet showing. Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were further added to the Anfield's frontline but inefficiency in ball control and solid Forest defending held the hosts at distance.

Late goal wraps up the outcome

Nottingham Forest showed the precision and cutting edge that Liverpool were lacking in the final third to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively