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Nottingham Forest's victory at Anfield the previous campaign appeared a one-off in an typically commanding top-flight home record for the Merseyside club. This recurrence this season, a far more convincing success under Sean Dyche, was a clear sign of the problems engulfing the faltering title holders.

The visitors' superb display

Forest were impressive as they secured their largest win at the famous ground. Strikes from the Brazilian, outstanding at either side of the field, Nicolò Savona and the magnificent Gibbs-White inspired a merited success for a Forest side that also maintained a maid clean sheet in twenty division fixtures.

Anfield's difficulties

Liverpool, on the other hand, were a disorganized as they experienced an 8th setback in eleven fixtures to drop into the lower half of the standings. Poor at dead-ball situations, once more, impotent in offense, consistently, with Alexander Isak replaced after 68 quiet moments, and poor in defense, they failed in every area to yield to a second successive 3-0 defeat.

Opening control lacking reward

For 30 minutes Liverpool enjoyed the advantage, the infrequent counter from Morgan Gibbs-White excepted, but the failure to convert chances into the actual outcome of goals hurt them significantly. Alexis Mac Allister was given an early opportunity from Gakpo's surge into the penalty area only for Elliot Anderson to deliver a superb goalline clearance with his head. The Liverpool midfielder had a second shot stopped soon after while impressive control from Salah set up another close-range opening for Kerkez. A Forest defender just managed to pressure the back into firing over.

Set-piece weakness afflicts once more

Liverpool's coach has often bemoaned Liverpool's weakness to fast breaks and set-plays in the current campaign. He was given fresh cause for frustration when Nottingham Forest took the lead through a blend of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was aghast after Jesus did not release Domínguez in space on the counter and allowed Konaté a chance to intercept. The ensuing set-piece sparked celebratory reactions in the visitors' bench, though, when the midfielder's cross glanced off Van Dijk to the goalscorer and the defender hammered an unstoppable strike from six yards into the far corner. It brought echoes of the defender's ruled out finish against City in the visitors' initial score with Ndoye positioned in an offside position in front of Anfield's recovered shot-stopper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee calls and controversy

As expected, the Van Dijk was quick to highlight the comparisons to the match official, Andrew Madley. In contrast to the full-back at the Etihad Stadium, Dan Ndoye made no obvious action in front of Alisson and the goal was given. The league stated: "The referee's call of valid strike was checked and confirmed by the video system – with it considered that the player was outside of the view of the keeper and avoided an move that influenced an defender."

The home side were saved by the officiating team and video review a short time later when Jesus believed he had doubled the visitors' advantage.

Konaté, who suffered a terrible match, made an weak attempt to remove an Sangaré's ball and turned the object against the Forest striker, who handled before placing the net of the goalkeeper's goal. Andrew Madley, in contact with his linesman, chalked off the strike for a handball that several replays found it hard to verify or refute. The Premier League stated: "The referee's call of invalid score was assessed and upheld by the system – with it deemed that Jesus inadvertently controlled the sphere before netting."

Follow-up goal widens lead

Any hope from the respite. Almost immediately of the restart Mac Allister failed to stop a ball towards Williams inside the home box. The full-back spun away from his defender and laid Forest's second on a platter for fellow defender the scorer, who found the keeper's top corner with a composed side-foot finish.

Managerial adjustments fail

The manager made changes, substituting Ibrahima Konaté with the forward after 55 minutes and pairing the France attacker next to Alexander Isak. This change lasted all of less than a quarter-hour before Alexander Isak was substituted following one more quiet display. Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were additionally added to the Anfield's frontline but carelessness in play and solid visitors' defense kept the hosts at distance.

Concluding blow wraps up the outcome

Forest showed the skill and penetration that the hosts were missing in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively