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The away side's success on Merseyside the previous campaign appeared a one-off in an typically commanding Premier League performances at Anfield for the Merseyside club. A second successive win in the current campaign, a decisively stronger triumph under their manager, was a clear sign of the issues engulfing the faltering title holders.

Nottingham Forest's superb display

Forest were exemplary as they achieved their biggest victory at Anfield. Goals from the Brazilian, superb at either side of the pitch, the full-back and the exceptional Gibbs-White inspired a well-earned win for a Forest side that also kept a first clean sheet in twenty top-flight games.

Anfield's struggles

The Reds, on the other hand, were a chaotic as they suffered an eighth loss in eleven matches to fall into the bottom half of the league. Weak at set pieces, once more, unproductive in offense, again, with the striker withdrawn after sixty-eight anonymous moments, and defensively weak, they failed in each phase to fall to a second successive 3-0 defeat.

Early dominance missing reward

For the opening half-hour the Reds maintained the advantage, the occasional counter from Morgan Gibbs-White aside, but the shortcoming to convert chances into the hard currency of finishes proved costly. Mac Allister was offered an early opportunity from Cody Gakpo's drive into the penalty area only for Elliot Anderson to produce a brilliant line save with his head. Mac Allister had a second shot deflected moments later while impressive control from Mohamed Salah created another close-range opportunity for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just did enough to disturb the full-back into sending high.

Dead-ball weakness afflicts once more

Arne Slot has frequently lamented the team's vulnerability to counterattacks and set-plays now. There was fresh cause for concern when Forest scored first through a mix of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was shocked after the forward did not find Domínguez in an open area on the fast attack and gave Ibrahima Konaté opportunity to clear. The ensuing corner caused jubilant scenes in the visitors' bench, nevertheless, when the midfielder's delivery deflected off Virgil van Dijk to the defender and the central defender hammered an irresistible strike from six yards into the far corner. There were echoes of Van Dijk's ruled out finish against Manchester City in the Forest's opener with the forward located in an offside in front of Anfield's returning goalkeeper the goalie.

VAR decisions and controversy

Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool captain was quick to highlight the parallels to the referee, Andrew Madley. However, unlike Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Dan Ndoye made no obvious action in front of Alisson and the strike stood. The league stated: "The referee's call of a score was checked and upheld by the assistant – with it deemed that the player was away from the view of the keeper and avoided an move that influenced an defender."

The home side were saved by the officiating team and the system a short time following when Igor Jesus thought he had increased Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a poor match, made an weak try to remove an Ibrahim Sangaré's cross and deflected the object against the Forest striker, who handled before slotting the net of the keeper's net. The referee, in communication with his linesman, ruled out the effort for a handling that several replays struggled to prove or deny. League officials said: "The referee's call of no goal was assessed and supported by VAR – with it considered that Igor Jesus inadvertently controlled the ball before finishing."

Second score extends cushion

That was the end of the reprieve. Moments of the restart Mac Allister was unable to cut out a ball towards the defender inside the home box. Williams evaded from his defender and laid their next goal on a platter for teammate wing-back Savona, who located Alisson's upper corner with a calm side-foot finish.

Strategic adjustments fail

Arne Slot took risks, bringing off the defender with Ekitiké after just before the hour and using the French striker alongside Isak. The tactical shift lasted all of 13 minutes before Isak was substituted following another anonymous display. the winger and the youngster were further thrown into the Anfield's frontline but sloppiness in possession and solid visitors' defense prevented the home side at arm's length.

Concluding strike wraps up the result

Nottingham Forest demonstrated the skill and cutting edge that Liverpool were without in the opposition half to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively