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Nottingham Forest's win here in the prior year was a blip in an otherwise commanding Premier League home campaign for Liverpool. Their repeat in the current campaign, a far more convincing victory under their manager, was indicative of the issues engulfing the declining former winners.

Nottingham Forest's exemplary display

The team was exemplary as they secured their most significant win at Anfield. Strikes from Murillo, outstanding at either side of the pitch, Savona and the magnificent Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a well-earned win for a team that also kept a initial shutout in twenty Premier League fixtures.

The home side's woes

The Reds, in comparison, were a chaotic as they endured an 8th setback in 11 matches to fall into the lower half of the standings. Ineffective at set pieces, repeatedly, impotent in attack, consistently, with Alexander Isak withdrawn after sixty-eight quiet minutes, and defensively weak, they failed in all departments to yield to a back-to-back 3-0 loss.

Initial dominance without payoff

For half an hour the home side held the initiative, the occasional attack from the Forest attacker aside, but the failure to capitalize on opportunities into the hard currency of finishes hurt them significantly. Mac Allister was presented with an early-on opportunity from Cody Gakpo's run into the area only for Anderson to execute a superb line save with his forehead. Mac Allister had a second shot deflected soon after while dazzling skill from Mohamed Salah set up another close-range chance for Milos Kerkez. An opposition player just managed to put off the full-back into sending high.

Dead-ball vulnerability afflicts repeatedly

The manager has frequently lamented the team's susceptibility to fast breaks and set-plays this season. There was new reason for concern when Nottingham Forest scored first through a mix of the each weakness.

Dyche was aghast after Jesus did not release the midfielder in space on the counter and presented Konaté a chance to intervene. The ensuing corner triggered jubilant reactions in the away team's area, nevertheless, when the midfielder's cross deflected off Van Dijk to the goalscorer and the centre-half drilled an unbeatable shot from inside the box into the back of the net. There were reminders of the captain's ruled out goal against the champions in the visitors' initial score with Dan Ndoye standing in an offside in front of Liverpool's returning goalkeeper Alisson.

VAR decisions and debate

As expected, the the skipper was swift to highlight the similarities to the referee, the ref. However, unlike Robertson at the Manchester, Dan Ndoye made no clear movement in front of Alisson and the score was given. The league stated: "The on-field decision of valid strike was reviewed and verified by the video system – with it deemed that he was away from the view of the keeper and avoided an action that affected an defender."

Liverpool were saved by the referees and VAR two minutes after when Jesus thought he had doubled the visitors' advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a poor match, made an unconvincing effort to remove an Sangaré's ball and turned the object against the Forest striker, who controlled before placing the bottom corner of Alisson's goal. Madley, in contact with his assistant referee, disallowed the effort for a illegal use of hand that multiple replays struggled to verify or refute. League officials stated: "The ruling of no goal was checked and supported by the video assistant – with it deemed that the player accidentally handled the ball before netting."

Another goal widens lead

So much for the let-off. Moments of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister did not stop a ball towards the defender inside the home box. Williams turned from his marker and presented their next goal on a silver platter for fellow wing-back the scorer, who located Alisson's roof of the net with a simple side-foot finish.

Managerial substitutions prove ineffective

Liverpool's coach took risks, substituting Konaté with Hugo Ekitiké after just before the hour and pairing the French forward alongside Isak. The tactical shift continued all of a short period before Isak was withdrawn following one more quiet showing. the winger and Rio Ngumoha were additionally added to the Liverpool attack but sloppiness in possession and sturdy Forest defending prevented the home side at arm's length.

Concluding goal wraps up the result

The visitors displayed the precision and cutting edge that the home team were lacking in the final third to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively