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Nottingham Forest's victory on Merseyside last season seemed an anomaly in an usually strong Premier League home record for the Merseyside club. A second successive win this season, a decisively stronger triumph under their manager, was indicative of the problems plaguing the struggling champions.

Forest's superb display

Forest were exemplary as they achieved their most significant triumph at Anfield. Goals from the defender, outstanding at either side of the pitch, the full-back and the exceptional the playmaker led to a deserved win for a Forest side that also kept a maid clean sheet in twenty Premier League fixtures.

Anfield's difficulties

Liverpool, in comparison, were a disorganized as they endured an eighth setback in eleven fixtures to fall into the bottom half of the table. Weak at dead-ball situations, once more, unproductive in attack, again, with the striker substituted after sixty-eight uninfluential moments, and defensively weak, they faltered in each phase to yield to a back-to-back 3-0 defeat.

Opening control without result

For the opening half-hour the Reds held the upper hand, the infrequent attack from Gibbs-White apart, but the inability to capitalize on opportunities into the actual outcome of finishes proved costly. the midfielder was presented with an early-on opportunity from Gakpo's drive into the box only for Elliot Anderson to deliver a superb desperate block with his head. The Liverpool midfielder had a follow-up attempt blocked soon after while impressive footwork from Salah set up another close-range opportunity for Milos Kerkez. The visiting defender just managed to pressure the defender into blazing over.

Dead-ball weakness afflicts again

Liverpool's coach has often criticized the team's vulnerability to counterattacks and set-plays this season. There was further evidence for concern when Forest scored first through a blend of the both aspects.

The Forest manager was shocked after Jesus did not pass to Domínguez in an open area on the counter and presented Konaté the opening to clear. The ensuing corner sparked ecstatic reactions in the away team's area, though, when Elliot Anderson's cross touched Virgil van Dijk to the defender and the central defender hammered an unbeatable strike from inside the box into the back of the net. There were similarities of Van Dijk's chalked-off goal against the champions in the visitors' first goal with Ndoye located in an illegal position in front of Liverpool's fit-again shot-stopper the Brazilian.

Video Assistant Referee decisions and controversy

Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool captain was swift to highlight the similarities to the official, the ref. In contrast to the full-back at the Manchester, Ndoye made no obvious movement in front of the keeper and the score remained. The Premier League clarified: "The initial ruling of goal was checked and verified by the video system – with it judged that he was away from the sightline of Alisson and avoided an action that influenced an opponent."

The Reds were saved by the officiating team and video review 120 seconds later when the striker believed he had added to Forest's cushion.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a terrible match, made an feeble effort to clear an Ibrahim Sangaré's cross and directed the sphere against the attacker, who brought down before finding the net of the keeper's posts. The referee, in contact with his assistant, chalked off the strike for a illegal use of hand that several reviews were unable to confirm or deny. League officials announced: "The referee's call of no goal was reviewed and supported by VAR – with it judged that Jesus accidentally handled the object before scoring."

Follow-up score widens cushion

Any hope from the reprieve. Almost immediately of the kick-off Mac Allister failed to stop a pass towards the defender inside the Liverpool box. The former Liverpool defender spun away from his defender and laid the visitors' second on a silver platter for teammate full back Nicolò Savona, who picked out the keeper's top corner with a calm placed shot.

Strategic adjustments do not work

Arne Slot took risks, substituting the defender with Hugo Ekitiké after 55 minutes and using the France forward with the Swede. That experiment persisted all of less than a quarter-hour before Isak was substituted following a further quiet showing. the winger and the youngster were also thrown into the hosts' offense but carelessness in play and solid visitors' defense prevented the Reds at arm's length.

Late blow wraps up the outcome

The visitors showed the skill and cutting edge that Liverpool were without in the opposition half to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively