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The away side's victory on Merseyside last season was a blip in an usually commanding top-flight home record for the hosts. Their repeat in the current campaign, a decisively stronger success under the Forest boss, was a clear sign of the problems plaguing the struggling former winners.

Nottingham Forest's superb showing

The team was impressive as they secured their biggest victory at Liverpool's home. Scores from the defender, superb at either side of the field, Savona and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White spurred a well-earned victory for a Forest side that also maintained a maid clean sheet in twenty Premier League matches.

The home side's struggles

The Reds, in comparison, were a chaotic as they experienced an eighth loss in 11 games to slide into the lower half of the standings. Poor at set pieces, again, unproductive in offense, consistently, with the striker substituted after 68 uninfluential minutes, and poor in defense, they struggled in every area to yield to a second successive heavy reverse.

Opening dominance without reward

For 30 minutes the home side maintained the upper hand, the occasional attack from Morgan Gibbs-White aside, but the shortcoming to turn promise into the hard currency of finishes cost them dearly. Mac Allister was offered an early opportunity from Gakpo's run into the area only for Anderson to deliver a excellent line save with his skull. The Liverpool midfielder had a follow-up attempt deflected moments later while skilful control from Salah produced another close-range opening for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just succeeded to disturb the defender into sending high.

Set-piece weakness afflicts again

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly lamented Liverpool's vulnerability to fast breaks and dead balls now. This provided new reason for frustration when Forest took the lead through a blend of the both aspects.

Sean Dyche was surprised after Igor Jesus failed to release the midfielder in an open area on the counter and allowed Ibrahima Konaté opportunity to intervene. The following corner triggered ecstatic scenes in the away team's area, however, when the midfielder's ball glanced off the captain to the goalscorer and the central defender hammered an unstoppable strike from six yards into the far corner. There were similarities of the defender'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 recovered goalkeeper Alisson.

The review system calls and controversy

As expected, the Van Dijk was quick to mention the comparisons to the referee, the ref. In contrast to Robertson at the Manchester, the forward made no apparent action in front of the goalkeeper and the goal was given. The league clarified: "The initial ruling of a score was reviewed and confirmed by the assistant – with it judged that the player was not in the view of Alisson and made no an move that affected an defender."

Liverpool were reprieved by the officiating team and video review a short time following when Igor Jesus was convinced he had doubled the visitors' cushion.

Ibrahima Konaté, who suffered a poor day, made an weak attempt to clear an Sangaré's cross and directed the ball against the attacker, who brought down before placing the bottom corner of the keeper's posts. Andrew Madley, in communication with his assistant referee, disallowed the strike for a illegal use of hand that multiple replays found it hard to confirm or deny. The authority stated: "The ruling of invalid score was checked and upheld by VAR – with it considered that Igor Jesus unintentionally touched the sphere before netting."

Another goal extends lead

So much for the let-off. Almost immediately of the kick-off the midfielder did not intercept a delivery towards Williams inside the Anfield penalty area. The full-back spun away from his defender and set up the visitors' second on a plate for teammate defender Savona, who found Alisson's roof of the net with a simple accurate strike.

Managerial adjustments prove ineffective

Arne Slot went for broke, substituting Konaté with Ekitiké after the 55th minute and pairing the Les Bleus attacker with Alexander Isak. That experiment lasted just less than a quarter-hour before Isak was withdrawn following another anonymous showing. Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were additionally thrown into the Liverpool attack but carelessness in play and sturdy opposition backline kept the Reds at distance.

Final goal seals the outcome

The visitors showed the skill and cutting edge that the hosts were without in the opposition half to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively