The Reds in disarray as Nottingham Forest conquer home ground once more with three-nil victory
Forest's success here last season appeared a one-off in an usually dominant English top division performances at Anfield for the Merseyside club. Their repeat now, a much more emphatic triumph under Sean Dyche, was a clear sign of the issues engulfing the declining title holders.
The visitors' outstanding showing
The team was exemplary as they achieved their largest triumph at the famous ground. Strikes from Murillo, outstanding at either side of the field, Nicolò Savona and the magnificent Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a merited victory for a Forest side that also maintained a first clean sheet in 20 Premier League fixtures.
Anfield's struggles
The Reds, on the other hand, were a disorganized as they suffered an eighth loss in eleven games to slide into the bottom half of the league. Ineffective at dead-ball situations, repeatedly, impotent in the final third, as before, with Alexander Isak withdrawn after sixty-eight quiet moments, and vulnerable at the back, they faltered in every area to yield to a back-to-back 3-0 reverse.
Early pressure without reward
For the opening half-hour the home side enjoyed the upper hand, the occasional attack from Morgan Gibbs-White excepted, but the failure to convert chances into the actual outcome of scores proved costly. Mac Allister was offered an early opportunity from Cody Gakpo's run into the penalty area only for Elliot Anderson to deliver a superb desperate block with his forehead. The Liverpool midfielder had a another effort deflected moments later while skilful footwork from Mohamed Salah created another near-post chance for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just succeeded to put off the full-back into sending high.
Dead-ball weakness strikes once more
Arne Slot has repeatedly bemoaned the team's weakness to counterattacks and set-plays now. He was given new reason for concern when Forest opened the scoring through a combination of the each weakness.
Sean Dyche was shocked after Igor Jesus failed to release Domínguez in an open area on the counter and allowed Ibrahima Konaté opportunity to intercept. The following corner kick caused jubilant reactions in the away team's area, however, when Elliot Anderson's cross touched the captain to the defender and the defender hammered an unbeatable finish from close range into the far corner. It brought similarities of the captain's chalked-off goal against the champions in the visitors' initial score with Ndoye located in an offside position in front of Anfield's returning goalkeeper Alisson.
Video Assistant Referee calls and controversy
As expected, the the skipper was quick to point out the similarities to the referee, Andrew Madley. In contrast to Robertson at the City's ground, Ndoye made no apparent gesture in front of the goalkeeper and the goal stood. The league stated: "The on-field decision of goal was checked and upheld by the assistant – with it considered that Ndoye was away from the sightline of Alisson and did not make an interference that influenced an opponent."
Liverpool were saved by the officiating team and video review two minutes after when Jesus believed he had doubled Forest's advantage.
The defender, who experienced a terrible day, made an unconvincing try to clear an Sangaré's delivery and turned the object against the attacker, who controlled before slotting the net of the keeper's net. The referee, in communication with his assistant referee, disallowed the effort for a illegal use of hand that multiple reviews found it hard to verify or disprove. The Premier League stated: "The referee's call of no goal was checked and upheld by the video assistant – with it judged that the player unintentionally touched the sphere before scoring."
Follow-up strike widens advantage
That was the end of the respite. Almost immediately of the restart Alexis Mac Allister did not intercept a delivery towards the defender inside the home box. The former Liverpool defender evaded from his defender and set up Forest's second on a platter for fellow defender the scorer, who located the keeper's upper corner with a calm accurate strike.
Managerial substitutions prove ineffective
Liverpool's coach made changes, substituting the defender with Hugo Ekitiké after the 55th minute and using the France attacker alongside Isak. This change persisted for only a short period before Alexander Isak was substituted following another quiet display. the winger and Ngumoha were further introduced to the hosts' offense but sloppiness in possession and resolute visitors' defense held the hosts at arm's length.
Late goal wraps up the outcome
Nottingham Forest demonstrated the finesse and cutting edge that the home team were missing in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively