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The away side's success at Anfield the previous campaign was a blip in an usually dominant English top division home record for Liverpool. A second successive win now, a decisively stronger success under their manager, was a clear sign of the challenges plaguing the declining former winners.

Nottingham Forest's exemplary display

The team was brilliant as they achieved their biggest win at the famous ground. Scores from the Brazilian, superb at either side of the pitch, the full-back and the magnificent Morgan Gibbs-White spurred a deserved win for a squad that also maintained a maid clean sheet in 20 Premier League fixtures.

Anfield's woes

The Reds, in comparison, were a chaotic as they endured an 8th setback in 11 fixtures to fall into the bottom half of the standings. Weak at dead-ball situations, repeatedly, impotent in the final third, as before, with the striker substituted after sixty-eight anonymous period, and vulnerable at the back, they faltered in every area to yield to a consecutive three-nil defeat.

Early control missing result

For half an hour the home side maintained the advantage, the infrequent attack from Morgan Gibbs-White excepted, but the shortcoming to convert chances into the tangible reward of finishes hurt them significantly. Alexis Mac Allister was offered an early opportunity from Cody Gakpo's surge into the box only for Elliot Anderson to execute a excellent goalline clearance with his forehead. He had a follow-up attempt blocked moments later while skilful control from Mohamed Salah created another close-range opening for the defender. An opposition player just did enough to pressure the back into firing over.

Dead-ball weakness hits once more

Liverpool's coach has frequently lamented the team's weakness to counterattacks and set pieces now. This provided fresh cause for concern when Nottingham Forest took the lead through a blend of the both aspects.

Sean Dyche was surprised after the forward failed to release Domínguez in an open area on the fast attack and presented the defender a chance to intercept. The resulting corner kick sparked celebratory moments in the away team's area, however, when Anderson's delivery glanced off Van Dijk to the defender and the centre-half fired an unbeatable shot from inside the box into the opposite side. This evoked reminders of Van Dijk's disallowed goal against the champions in the away team's initial score with Dan Ndoye positioned in an offside in front of Liverpool's fit-again keeper the Brazilian.

VAR decisions and dispute

As expected, the the skipper was prompt to mention the similarities to the official, Andrew Madley. In contrast to the full-back at the Etihad Stadium, Ndoye made no apparent movement in front of the keeper and the strike remained. The league stated: "The on-field decision of valid strike was examined and verified by the assistant – with it considered that Ndoye was not in the view of Alisson and avoided an interference that impacted an player."

The home side were saved by the referees and video review a short time after when Jesus believed he had doubled the visitors' cushion.

Ibrahima Konaté, who suffered a poor match, made an feeble effort to deal with an the midfielder's cross and directed the object against the Forest striker, who controlled before finding the net of the keeper's net. The referee, in contact with his assistant, ruled out the effort for a handling that multiple reviews were unable to prove or refute. The Premier League stated: "The decision of no goal was reviewed and upheld by the video assistant – with it judged that Igor Jesus accidentally controlled the ball before finishing."

Another strike widens cushion

That was the end of the respite. Within seconds of the resumption Alexis Mac Allister was unable to cut out a ball towards the defender inside the Liverpool box. The full-back spun away from his defender and set up Forest's second on a platter for fellow defender Savona, who picked out the goalkeeper's roof of the net with a composed accurate strike.

Strategic adjustments fail

The manager made changes, substituting Konaté with Hugo Ekitiké after the 55th minute and partnering the Les Bleus striker next to Alexander Isak. This change persisted just a short period before the striker was substituted following one more ineffective performance. Federico Chiesa and Ngumoha were further introduced to the hosts' offense but sloppiness in ball control and sturdy visitors' defense held the hosts at bay.

Late goal confirms the victory

Nottingham Forest showed the finesse and cutting edge that the hosts were missing in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively