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Nottingham Forest's win on Merseyside the previous campaign appeared a one-off in an typically strong English top division home record for the hosts. A second successive win this season, a far more convincing victory under their manager, was a clear sign of the challenges plaguing the faltering former winners.

Forest's outstanding performance

The team was brilliant as they recorded their biggest triumph at Liverpool's home. Scores from Murillo, excellent at both ends of the pitch, the full-back and the magnificent the playmaker inspired a well-earned win for a Forest side that also maintained a initial shutout in 20 Premier League matches.

Liverpool's woes

The hosts, in comparison, were a chaotic as they experienced an eighth defeat in eleven games to drop into the lower half of the table. Weak at set pieces, once more, unproductive in the final third, again, with Isak substituted after 68 quiet period, and poor in defense, they struggled in all departments to succumb to a second successive three-nil defeat.

Initial control lacking reward

For the opening half-hour the Reds enjoyed the initiative, the occasional counter from the Forest attacker excepted, but the shortcoming to capitalize on opportunities into the hard currency of scores proved costly. Mac Allister was offered an early opening from Cody Gakpo's surge into the box only for Elliot Anderson to execute a superb desperate block with his skull. The Liverpool midfielder had a another effort deflected shortly after while dazzling footwork from the winger set up another close-range opening for Kerkez. The visiting defender just did enough to disturb the defender into blazing over.

Set-play frailty afflicts again

Liverpool's coach has frequently lamented the team's weakness to fast breaks and set-plays in the current campaign. There was fresh cause for frustration when Nottingham Forest opened the scoring through a combination of the each weakness.

Dyche was surprised after Igor Jesus was unable to find Nicolás Domínguez in room on the break and gave the defender a chance to clear. The following corner sparked jubilant reactions in the away team's area, though, when Elliot Anderson's delivery deflected off Virgil van Dijk to the defender and the defender hammered an irresistible shot from inside the box into the far corner. This evoked similarities of Van Dijk's chalked-off strike against Manchester City in the away team's opener with Ndoye located in an offside position in front of the home side's fit-again keeper the Brazilian.

VAR calls and debate

Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool captain was quick to highlight the parallels to the referee, Andrew Madley. But unlike Andy Robertson at the City's ground, Dan Ndoye made no clear gesture in front of Alisson and the score stood. The Premier League stated: "The on-field decision of a score was reviewed and verified by VAR – with it considered that Ndoye was outside of the sightline of Alisson and avoided an action that affected an defender."

Liverpool were reprieved by the referees and the system a short time later when Jesus believed he had increased the visitors' lead.

The defender, who experienced a dreadful day, made an unconvincing effort to deal with an the midfielder's cross and turned the ball against the forward, who controlled before finding the net of the keeper's posts. Andrew Madley, in contact with his assistant referee, disallowed the strike for a illegal use of hand that various replays found it hard to confirm or deny. The Premier League said: "The decision of disallowed strike was reviewed and confirmed by the system – with it deemed that Jesus unintentionally touched the ball before netting."

Follow-up goal widens lead

That was the end of the respite. Almost immediately of the restart Mac Allister failed to cut out a pass towards Williams inside the home 18-yard box. Williams spun away from his marker and presented Forest's second on a platter for partner defender Nicolò Savona, who located the keeper's upper corner with a simple side-foot finish.

Tactical changes do not work

Arne Slot took risks, substituting Konaté with the forward after just before the hour and partnering the French attacker with Alexander Isak. The tactical shift continued for only a short period before Alexander Isak was withdrawn following another ineffective display. Federico Chiesa and the youngster were further thrown into the hosts' offense but carelessness in play and solid Forest defending held the Reds at distance.

Final goal wraps up the victory

Nottingham Forest demonstrated the skill and penetration that Liverpool were without in the attacking phase to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively