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Nottingham Forest's win on Merseyside in the prior year seemed an anomaly in an usually commanding Premier League home campaign for the Merseyside club. This recurrence now, a far more convincing victory under their manager, was symptomatic of the issues plaguing the declining champions.

Forest's outstanding display

The team was brilliant as they recorded their most significant triumph at Liverpool's home. Strikes from the defender, superb at either side of the field, the full-back and the exceptional the playmaker inspired a well-earned win for a squad that also secured a maid clean sheet in 20 top-flight fixtures.

The home side's woes

The Reds, in comparison, were a chaotic as they endured an 8th defeat in eleven matches to slide into the bottom half of the league. Poor at set-plays, repeatedly, unproductive in offense, again, with Isak replaced after sixty-eight anonymous moments, and poor in defense, they failed in every area to succumb to a consecutive 3-0 loss.

Opening dominance missing result

For half an hour the Reds enjoyed the initiative, the occasional counter from the Forest attacker apart, but the inability to convert chances into the tangible reward of scores proved costly. Alexis Mac Allister was given an early opportunity from Gakpo's surge into the box only for Elliot Anderson to produce a excellent goalline clearance with his head. He had a follow-up attempt stopped moments later while skilful skill from the winger created another near-post opening for the defender. A Forest defender just managed to put off the back into firing over.

Set-play frailty strikes repeatedly

Liverpool's coach has often lamented the team's vulnerability to fast breaks and set pieces this season. He was given new reason for concern when Forest scored first through a combination of the both aspects.

Dyche was shocked after Igor Jesus was unable to pass to the midfielder in an open area on the break and presented Konaté opportunity to intervene. The ensuing corner sparked celebratory scenes in the away team's area, nevertheless, when Elliot Anderson's ball deflected off Van Dijk to the goalscorer and the defender fired an irresistible finish from inside the box into the back of the net. It brought similarities of the captain's disallowed goal against the champions in the Forest's first goal with the forward located in an offside in front of the home side's fit-again keeper the goalie.

The review system calls and debate

As expected, the the skipper was swift to mention the parallels to the official, Andrew Madley. In contrast to Andy Robertson at the City's ground, Ndoye made no clear gesture in front of the goalkeeper and the score was given. The Premier League clarified: "The referee's call of a score was reviewed and verified by the assistant – with it deemed that the player was not in the line of vision of the keeper and did not make an interference that influenced an player."

Liverpool were let off by the match officials and the system 120 seconds later when the striker was convinced he had increased Forest's lead.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a terrible afternoon, made an weak effort to remove an the midfielder's delivery and deflected the ball against the Forest striker, who brought down before finding the lower corner of the goalkeeper's posts. Madley, in contact with his linesman, ruled out the effort for a handball that various footage were unable to prove or disprove. The Premier League stated: "The ruling of invalid score was assessed and supported by VAR – with it judged that Jesus inadvertently touched the ball before scoring."

Second goal extends cushion

That was the end of the reprieve. Almost immediately of the resumption Alexis Mac Allister failed to intercept a delivery towards Neco Williams inside the Anfield box. Williams spun away from his opponent and laid their next goal on a platter for teammate defender the scorer, who located the goalkeeper's roof of the net with a composed placed shot.

Strategic adjustments prove ineffective

Liverpool's coach went for broke, bringing off Konaté with the forward after 55 minutes and using the France attacker with Isak. The tactical shift continued just less than a quarter-hour before the striker was substituted following a further quiet display. Chiesa and Ngumoha were further thrown into the hosts' offense but sloppiness in ball control and sturdy Forest defending kept the hosts at arm's length.

Concluding strike wraps up the victory

Forest showed the skill and cutting edge that the home team were lacking in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively