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Forest's win on Merseyside the previous campaign appeared a one-off in an usually dominant English top division home campaign for the hosts. A second successive win in the current campaign, a much more emphatic success under Sean Dyche, was symptomatic of the challenges plaguing the faltering champions.

The visitors' exemplary showing

The team was brilliant as they secured their biggest victory at the famous ground. Goals from the Brazilian, superb at either side of the playing surface, Savona and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White led to a merited victory for a squad that also maintained a first clean sheet in 20 top-flight matches.

Liverpool's woes

The hosts, on the other hand, were a mess as they endured an eighth setback in 11 games to fall into the second tier of the table. Ineffective at set pieces, repeatedly, ineffectual in offense, again, with the striker withdrawn after sixty-eight anonymous minutes, and vulnerable at the back, they struggled in each phase to succumb to a second successive heavy reverse.

Opening pressure missing reward

For half an hour Liverpool held the upper hand, the infrequent attack from Morgan Gibbs-White aside, but the inability to turn promise into the tangible reward of goals cost them dearly. Mac Allister was given an initial opportunity from the forward's drive into the box only for Elliot Anderson to produce a superb desperate block with his head. Mac Allister had a second shot stopped soon after while skilful skill from Mohamed Salah created another close-range chance for the defender. An opposition player just managed to pressure the full-back into blazing over.

Set-piece weakness strikes repeatedly

Arne Slot has repeatedly bemoaned his side's vulnerability to counterattacks and set-plays now. He was given fresh cause for complaint when Forest opened the scoring through a blend of the both aspects.

Sean Dyche was surprised after Igor Jesus was unable to release the midfielder in space on the break and allowed Konaté a chance to intercept. The resulting corner kick caused ecstatic scenes in the away team's area, nevertheless, when the midfielder's delivery touched Van Dijk to Murillo and the centre-half drilled an unbeatable strike from six yards into the back of the net. There were echoes of the defender's ruled out strike against City in the Forest's first goal with Ndoye located in an offside in front of Liverpool's fit-again keeper Alisson.

The review system rulings and dispute

Predictably, the Van Dijk was swift to point out the similarities to the official, Andrew Madley. In contrast to the full-back at the Manchester, the forward made no clear movement in front of the keeper and the strike stood. Officials stated: "The referee's call of valid strike was reviewed and verified by VAR – with it considered that the player was not in the view of Alisson and avoided an move that impacted an defender."

The home side were saved by the match officials and the system 120 seconds following when the striker thought he had increased Nottingham Forest's cushion.

Konaté, who experienced a poor afternoon, made an feeble attempt to deal with an Ibrahim Sangaré's ball and turned the sphere against the forward, who controlled before slotting the net of the keeper's net. Madley, in discussion with his assistant referee, chalked off the attempt for a handling that several replays were unable to prove or refute. The Premier League said: "The decision of invalid score was reviewed and confirmed by the system – with it deemed that Jesus inadvertently controlled the object before finishing."

Another goal increases advantage

Any hope from the reprieve. Moments of the restart Alexis Mac Allister did not stop a ball towards Neco Williams inside the Liverpool box. Williams spun away from his opponent and presented their next goal on a platter for partner full back Savona, who found the keeper's roof of the net with a composed placed shot.

Managerial changes prove ineffective

The manager took risks, replacing Ibrahima Konaté with Ekitiké after just before the hour and pairing the France striker next to Isak. This change lasted just 13 minutes before the striker was replaced following one more anonymous showing. Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were additionally introduced to the Anfield's frontline but inefficiency in possession and resolute opposition backline prevented the home side at arm's length.

Final strike confirms the result

Forest displayed the skill and incisiveness that the hosts were lacking in the attacking phase to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively