Anfield's team facing turmoil as Nottingham Forest storm home ground again with three-nil victory
The away side's success on Merseyside in the prior year appeared a one-off in an typically dominant English top division home record for Liverpool. A second successive win this season, a much more emphatic triumph under their manager, was a clear sign of the problems plaguing the declining title holders.
Forest's outstanding display
The team was brilliant as they secured their most significant win at Anfield. Strikes from the defender, excellent at either side of the field, the full-back and the exceptional the playmaker led to a well-earned victory for a squad that also secured a initial shutout in 20 Premier League fixtures.
Liverpool's woes
The Reds, in comparison, were a chaotic as they endured an 8th loss in 11 matches to drop into the second tier of the standings. Poor at dead-ball situations, again, impotent in attack, again, with Alexander Isak withdrawn after 68 uninfluential moments, and poor in defense, they faltered in all departments to fall to a back-to-back three-nil loss.
Initial dominance missing result
For the opening half-hour the Reds maintained the advantage, the occasional counter from Gibbs-White excepted, but the failure to capitalize on opportunities into the tangible reward of goals cost them dearly. Alexis Mac Allister was presented with an initial chance from Cody Gakpo's run into the box only for the Forest player to produce a superb desperate block with his skull. Mac Allister had a follow-up attempt deflected soon after while dazzling footwork from Mohamed Salah produced another close-range opening for the defender. A Forest defender just managed to put off the back into sending high.
Dead-ball vulnerability hits repeatedly
Liverpool's coach has repeatedly criticized his side's weakness to counterattacks and dead balls this season. This provided fresh cause for frustration when the visitors scored first through a blend of the each weakness.
Sean Dyche was surprised after Igor Jesus was unable to find Domínguez in an open area on the counter and presented Ibrahima Konaté the opening to intercept. The following corner kick caused ecstatic moments in the visitors' bench, though, when Elliot Anderson's ball touched Virgil van Dijk to the defender and the centre-half fired an irresistible strike from six yards into the back of the net. It brought similarities of Van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City in the Forest's opener with the forward located in an offside in front of Anfield's fit-again shot-stopper the goalie.
The review system calls and debate
Predictably, the the skipper was quick to mention the parallels to the referee, the ref. In contrast to the full-back at the City's ground, Ndoye made no obvious movement in front of the goalkeeper and the strike stood. The Premier League confirmed: "The referee's call of goal was examined and verified by the video system – with it considered that the player was outside of the view of the keeper and did not make an move that impacted an defender."
The Reds were reprieved by the officiating team and video review two minutes later when the striker believed he had doubled Forest's advantage.
Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a poor day, made an feeble attempt to clear an Sangaré's ball and turned the ball against the attacker, who controlled before slotting the bottom corner of Alisson's posts. Andrew Madley, in contact with his assistant, chalked off the strike for a handling that several reviews were unable to prove or deny. The Premier League stated: "The referee's call of no goal was reviewed and supported by the video assistant – with it judged that Jesus unintentionally handled the object before scoring."
Another score widens lead
So much for the respite. Within seconds of the resumption Mac Allister did not intercept a pass towards the defender inside the home penalty area. Williams turned from his defender and presented their next goal on a platter for teammate defender Nicolò Savona, who found Alisson's upper corner with a calm placed shot.
Strategic changes prove ineffective
Arne Slot took risks, bringing off Ibrahima Konaté with the forward after the 55th minute and partnering the Les Bleus forward next to Isak. The tactical shift continued for only less than a quarter-hour before Isak was substituted following a further anonymous display. Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha were further thrown into the Liverpool attack but inefficiency in ball control and sturdy visitors' defense prevented the home side at distance.
Concluding goal seals the victory
Nottingham Forest showed the precision and penetration that Liverpool were without in the final third to seal the match {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively