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Forest's win at Anfield the previous campaign seemed an anomaly in an usually dominant English top division home record for the hosts. Their repeat in the current campaign, a decisively stronger triumph under Sean Dyche, was symptomatic of the problems plaguing the struggling champions.

Forest's superb performance

The team was impressive as they achieved their largest win at the famous ground. Strikes from the Brazilian, outstanding at either side of the pitch, Savona and the superb the playmaker inspired a well-earned success for a team that also maintained a maid clean sheet in twenty top-flight matches.

The home side's difficulties

Liverpool, in comparison, were a chaotic as they suffered an 8th defeat in 11 matches to drop into the second tier of the league. Poor at dead-ball situations, once more, unproductive in offense, consistently, with the striker withdrawn after 68 quiet minutes, and defensively weak, they failed in each phase to fall to a second successive three-nil loss.

Early control missing result

For the opening half-hour the home side maintained the initiative, the sporadic attack from the Forest attacker apart, but the shortcoming to capitalize on opportunities into the tangible reward of finishes hurt them significantly. Mac Allister was offered an early opening from the forward's surge into the area only for Elliot Anderson to deliver a excellent goalline clearance with his forehead. Mac Allister had a another effort stopped shortly after while impressive skill from the winger set up another close-range chance for Kerkez. An opposition player just managed to put off the back into blazing over.

Dead-ball weakness strikes once more

Arne Slot has often criticized the team's weakness to transitions and set-plays this season. This provided new reason for concern when Forest took the lead through a combination of the two.

Dyche was surprised after Jesus failed to pass to Domínguez in room on the counter and presented Konaté a chance to intervene. The following corner caused jubilant reactions in the away team's area, however, when Elliot Anderson's cross deflected off Van Dijk to the goalscorer and the centre-half hammered an unstoppable strike from six yards into the opposite side. It brought reminders of the defender's chalked-off strike against the champions in the away team's opener with Ndoye located in an offside position in front of the home side's recovered keeper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee decisions and controversy

As expected, the Liverpool captain was quick to mention the similarities to the official, the ref. In contrast to Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Dan Ndoye made no apparent action in front of the goalkeeper and the goal stood. The Premier League clarified: "The referee's call of goal was examined and upheld by the video system – with it judged that Ndoye was outside of the sightline of the goalkeeper and did not make an move that impacted an player."

The Reds were let off by the match officials and VAR two minutes later when Igor Jesus was convinced he had increased the visitors' cushion.

Ibrahima Konaté, who suffered a dreadful afternoon, made an unconvincing try to remove an Sangaré's cross and deflected the ball against the Forest striker, who brought down before slotting the lower corner of the goalkeeper's net. Madley, in communication with his assistant referee, chalked off the attempt for a illegal use of hand that various footage struggled to confirm or deny. The authority announced: "The decision of invalid score was assessed and upheld by the video assistant – with it considered that Jesus inadvertently handled the sphere before scoring."

Follow-up score increases cushion

That was the end of the reprieve. Within seconds of the restart Alexis Mac Allister was unable to intercept a ball towards Neco Williams inside the Anfield penalty area. Williams spun away from his marker and set up the visitors' second on a plate for partner defender Savona, who located the goalkeeper's roof of the net with a calm accurate strike.

Strategic substitutions fail

Liverpool's coach made changes, replacing Ibrahima Konaté with Ekitiké after 55 minutes and partnering the France forward next to the Swede. The tactical shift continued just 13 minutes before Alexander Isak was replaced following one more ineffective showing. Federico Chiesa and Ngumoha were further thrown into the hosts' offense but carelessness in possession and sturdy visitors' defense kept the hosts at bay.

Final goal confirms the result

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