Liverpool in disarray as Nottingham Forest conquer their fortress for the second time with 3-0 win

The away side's success on Merseyside last season seemed an anomaly in an typically strong top-flight home campaign for Liverpool. Their repeat this season, a far more convincing success under the Forest boss, was indicative of the challenges plaguing the declining title holders.

The visitors' superb performance

The team was impressive as they recorded their largest triumph at Liverpool's home. Goals from the defender, outstanding at each end of the field, the full-back and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White spurred a merited win for a squad that also kept a first clean sheet in twenty top-flight matches.

Liverpool's struggles

The Reds, in comparison, were a chaotic as they endured an 8th loss in 11 games to slide into the bottom half of the standings. Poor at set-plays, repeatedly, unproductive in the final third, again, with Isak substituted after sixty-eight quiet minutes, and vulnerable at the back, they struggled in each phase to succumb to a back-to-back 3-0 defeat.

Opening dominance missing payoff

For half an hour the Reds maintained the upper hand, the infrequent break from Morgan Gibbs-White aside, but the failure to convert chances into the hard currency of scores hurt them significantly. Mac Allister was offered an early chance from the forward's drive into the penalty area only for Anderson to execute a brilliant goalline clearance with his forehead. The Liverpool midfielder had a second shot stopped soon after while skilful control from the winger produced another near-post opportunity for the defender. The visiting defender just managed to put off the back into sending high.

Dead-ball weakness hits repeatedly

The manager has often bemoaned Liverpool's weakness to fast breaks and dead balls now. There was further evidence for frustration when Forest opened the scoring through a combination of the both aspects.

Dyche was shocked after Igor Jesus did not release Nicolás Domínguez in an open area on the break and allowed Ibrahima Konaté a chance to intervene. The resulting corner caused celebratory scenes in the visitors' bench, though, when Elliot Anderson's delivery glanced off Virgil van Dijk to the defender and the defender hammered an unstoppable shot from close range into the back of the net. There were similarities of the defender's ruled out strike against the champions in the away team's first goal with Ndoye standing in an offside in front of Anfield's recovered keeper Alisson.

The review system decisions and dispute

As expected, the Van Dijk was swift to highlight the similarities to the referee, Andrew Madley. However, unlike Andy Robertson at the Manchester, the forward made no obvious gesture in front of the goalkeeper and the goal stood. The Premier League stated: "The on-field decision of goal was checked and upheld by VAR – with it considered that he was not in the line of vision of the goalkeeper and avoided an move that impacted an player."

Liverpool were saved by the officiating team and video review a short time after when Igor Jesus was convinced he had added to Nottingham Forest's advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who suffered a poor match, made an unconvincing try to deal with an Ibrahim Sangaré's ball and deflected the ball against the Forest striker, who brought down before slotting the bottom corner of the goalkeeper's goal. Madley, in communication with his assistant referee, ruled out the attempt for a illegal use of hand that several footage struggled to prove or refute. League officials announced: "The referee's call of invalid score was reviewed and upheld by VAR – with it deemed that the player unintentionally controlled the sphere before finishing."

Follow-up goal widens advantage

That was the end of the let-off. Almost immediately of the resumption the midfielder did not cut out a pass towards Neco Williams inside the Anfield box. The full-back evaded from his marker and laid their next goal on a plate for teammate full back Savona, who found the goalkeeper's upper corner with a calm accurate strike.

Tactical changes prove ineffective

Liverpool's coach went for broke, bringing off Konaté with the forward after the 55th minute and pairing the Les Bleus attacker next to the Swede. This change continued all of less than a quarter-hour before Isak was substituted following a further ineffective showing. Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were further added to the hosts' offense but inefficiency in play and resolute visitors' defense held the home side at bay.

Late goal wraps up the outcome

Nottingham Forest displayed the finesse and incisiveness that the home team were without in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively