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The away side's win on Merseyside last season was a blip in an usually dominant top-flight home record for Liverpool. Their repeat now, a decisively stronger triumph under their manager, was a clear sign of the challenges afflicting the declining title holders.

Forest's exemplary showing

Nottingham Forest proved brilliant as they achieved their most significant win at Anfield. Goals from the defender, outstanding at each end of the field, Nicolò Savona and the magnificent Gibbs-White spurred a merited win for a Forest side that also maintained a initial shutout in 20 division games.

The home side's woes

The hosts, by contrast, were a mess as they suffered an 8th setback in eleven games to fall into the bottom half of the league. Weak at set-plays, again, impotent in the final third, consistently, with Isak withdrawn after 68 quiet moments, and poor in defense, they struggled in every area to fall to a second successive 3-0 loss.

Early pressure without result

For 30 minutes the home side held the upper hand, the sporadic counter from Morgan Gibbs-White apart, but the inability to capitalize on opportunities into the hard currency of scores hurt them significantly. Alexis Mac Allister was offered an early-on chance from Gakpo's drive into the box only for Anderson to deliver a superb goalline clearance with his skull. He had a another effort blocked moments later while skilful footwork from the winger set up another near-post opportunity for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just managed to pressure the full-back into sending high.

Set-play vulnerability strikes once more

Arne Slot has often criticized Liverpool's vulnerability to transitions and set-plays in the current campaign. He was given further evidence for frustration when the visitors opened the scoring through a combination of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was surprised after the forward failed to find Domínguez in space on the fast attack and allowed the defender a chance to intervene. The ensuing corner triggered ecstatic scenes in the away team's area, though, when Anderson's ball glanced off Virgil van Dijk to the defender and the defender fired an unbeatable finish from six yards into the back of the net. This evoked similarities of the captain's disallowed goal against the champions in the visitors' opener with Dan Ndoye standing in an offside position in front of the home side's returning keeper the goalie.

Video Assistant Referee calls and debate

As expected, the Van Dijk was prompt to mention the similarities to the official, Madley. In contrast to the full-back at the City's ground, the forward made no obvious action in front of the keeper and the goal stood. The Premier League stated: "The referee's call of goal was examined and confirmed by the video system – with it judged that the player was not in the view of Alisson and did not make an move that influenced an defender."

The home side were saved by the referees and the system 120 seconds following when Igor Jesus believed he had doubled Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a terrible afternoon, made an feeble try to deal with an Ibrahim Sangaré's ball and turned the object against the Forest striker, who handled before slotting the net of the goalkeeper's posts. Andrew Madley, in discussion with his assistant, ruled out the strike for a illegal use of hand that several replays struggled to confirm or disprove. The authority said: "The referee's call of no goal was assessed and confirmed by the video assistant – with it considered that the player inadvertently handled the object before netting."

Follow-up goal widens cushion

Any hope from the respite. Almost immediately of the restart Mac Allister was unable to cut out a delivery towards Neco Williams inside the Anfield box. The former Liverpool defender spun away from his marker and laid their next goal on a silver platter for fellow defender the scorer, who located the goalkeeper's top corner with a composed side-foot finish.

Managerial substitutions prove ineffective

Arne Slot made changes, substituting Konaté with Ekitiké after 55 minutes and partnering the France forward next to Alexander Isak. That experiment continued all of a short period before the striker was replaced following a further ineffective performance. the winger and Rio Ngumoha were additionally thrown into the hosts' offense but inefficiency in possession and resolute opposition backline prevented the Reds at bay.

Concluding strike confirms the victory

Nottingham Forest demonstrated the skill and cutting edge that Liverpool were lacking in the attacking phase to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively