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The away side's victory at Anfield the previous campaign appeared a one-off in an usually commanding top-flight performances at Anfield for Liverpool. A second successive win this season, a decisively stronger triumph under their manager, was symptomatic of the problems engulfing the declining title holders.

Nottingham Forest's exemplary showing

Forest were brilliant as they secured their most significant win at the famous ground. Goals from the Brazilian, excellent at either side of the field, Savona and the exceptional the playmaker inspired a deserved victory for a Forest side that also secured a initial shutout in twenty Premier League matches.

The home side's woes

Liverpool, on the other hand, were a mess as they experienced an eighth loss in 11 fixtures to drop into the lower half of the standings. Weak at set-plays, once more, ineffectual in the final third, again, with the striker substituted after 68 uninfluential period, and vulnerable at the back, they faltered in each phase to fall to a back-to-back 3-0 reverse.

Early control lacking result

For 30 minutes the home side enjoyed the advantage, the infrequent attack from Morgan Gibbs-White aside, but the failure to turn promise into the tangible reward of scores proved costly. Mac Allister was presented with an early-on opening from the forward's run into the area only for the Forest player to execute a excellent goalline clearance with his skull. The Liverpool midfielder had a follow-up attempt blocked shortly after while impressive skill from the winger produced another short-distance opportunity for Milos Kerkez. The visiting defender just managed to disturb the full-back into sending high.

Dead-ball frailty hits once more

Liverpool's coach has repeatedly criticized his side's susceptibility to fast breaks and set pieces this season. There was fresh cause for frustration when Nottingham Forest took the lead through a mix of the both aspects.

The Forest manager was surprised after Jesus did not pass to the midfielder in room on the fast attack and presented the defender opportunity to clear. The ensuing corner sparked celebratory moments in the Forest dugout, though, when Elliot Anderson's delivery glanced off the captain to Murillo and the central defender drilled an unbeatable shot from six yards into the back of the net. There were similarities of the defender's chalked-off strike against the champions in the Forest's opener with the forward standing in an offside in front of Liverpool's returning goalkeeper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee decisions and controversy

Unsurprisingly, the the skipper was swift to mention the parallels to the referee, Madley. However, unlike Andy Robertson at the Manchester, the forward made no obvious gesture in front of Alisson and the score stood. The league stated: "The referee's call of goal was reviewed and upheld by the assistant – with it judged that the player was not in the line of vision of the keeper and did not make an move that affected an defender."

The home side were saved by the match officials and the system a short time after when Jesus was convinced he had doubled Nottingham Forest's cushion.

Ibrahima Konaté, who endured a poor afternoon, made an weak try to deal with an Ibrahim Sangaré's ball and directed the ball against the Forest striker, who controlled before finding the bottom corner of Alisson's goal. Andrew Madley, in communication with his assistant, chalked off the attempt for a illegal use of hand that various footage found it hard to prove or refute. League officials stated: "The ruling of disallowed strike was reviewed and confirmed by the video assistant – with it deemed that the player unintentionally touched the ball before scoring."

Another strike extends lead

That was the end of the respite. Within seconds of the resumption Alexis Mac Allister failed to intercept a pass towards the defender inside the home penalty area. The former Liverpool defender spun away from his defender and presented Forest's second on a platter for partner full back the scorer, who picked out the keeper's top corner with a composed side-foot finish.

Managerial changes prove ineffective

The manager made changes, substituting the defender with the forward after 55 minutes and using the Les Bleus striker next to the Swede. This change lasted just less than a quarter-hour before the striker was replaced following one more anonymous showing. the winger and Ngumoha were further added to the Anfield's frontline but sloppiness in play and sturdy visitors' defense kept the Reds at bay.

Concluding strike wraps up the result

The visitors showed the precision and penetration that the home team were missing in the opposition half to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively