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The away side's victory here the previous campaign was a blip in an otherwise commanding Premier League home campaign for the Merseyside club. Their repeat this season, a far more convincing triumph under Sean Dyche, was indicative of the problems plaguing the faltering champions.

Forest's exemplary performance

Nottingham Forest proved impressive as they secured their biggest win at Anfield. Strikes from the defender, outstanding at each end of the playing surface, the full-back and the exceptional the playmaker spurred a deserved success for a team that also secured a first clean sheet in twenty top-flight games.

Liverpool's struggles

The hosts, on the other hand, were a mess as they suffered an eighth loss in 11 matches to drop into the second tier of the standings. Poor at dead-ball situations, repeatedly, unproductive in the final third, again, with the striker substituted after 68 uninfluential period, and defensively weak, they struggled in all departments to fall to a back-to-back three-nil loss.

Opening pressure missing payoff

For 30 minutes the Reds enjoyed the advantage, the sporadic break from Morgan Gibbs-White apart, but the inability to capitalize on opportunities into the actual outcome of scores proved costly. Alexis Mac Allister was given an initial opportunity from the forward's run into the box only for Anderson to execute a superb goalline clearance with his forehead. The Liverpool midfielder had a second shot stopped soon after while dazzling skill from Mohamed Salah produced another close-range opportunity for Kerkez. The visiting defender just succeeded to disturb the back into sending high.

Set-piece frailty hits again

The manager has often criticized Liverpool's vulnerability to fast breaks and dead balls in the current campaign. This provided new reason for concern when the visitors took the lead through a combination of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was surprised after Igor Jesus failed to pass to Nicolás Domínguez in an open area on the break and allowed Konaté a chance to intervene. The following corner kick sparked celebratory reactions in the away team's area, though, when the midfielder's cross deflected off the captain to the goalscorer and the centre-half drilled an unbeatable shot from close range into the opposite side. It brought reminders of Van Dijk's disallowed finish against City in the Forest's initial score with Dan Ndoye positioned in an offside position in front of Anfield's fit-again goalkeeper the goalie.

The review system decisions and controversy

As expected, the Van Dijk was quick to mention the comparisons to the referee, Andrew Madley. In contrast to Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, the forward made no clear movement in front of Alisson and the score was given. Officials confirmed: "The initial ruling of a score was checked and upheld by the assistant – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the sightline of Alisson and avoided an action that influenced an opponent."

Liverpool were reprieved by the officiating team and VAR two minutes later when the striker believed he had added to the visitors' lead.

Konaté, who suffered a poor match, made an weak attempt to clear an Sangaré's ball and directed the object against the Forest striker, who brought down before placing the lower corner of the keeper's goal. The referee, in contact with his assistant referee, ruled out the effort for a handball that multiple reviews were unable to verify or deny. The authority announced: "The referee's call of no goal was reviewed and upheld by the video assistant – with it considered that Igor Jesus unintentionally touched the sphere before scoring."

Another score increases advantage

So much for the respite. Moments of the restart the midfielder failed to cut out a delivery towards Neco Williams inside the Anfield penalty area. Williams evaded from his marker and laid the visitors' second on a plate for partner defender the scorer, who picked out Alisson's upper corner with a simple accurate strike.

Tactical changes do not work

Liverpool's coach went for broke, substituting the defender with the forward after 55 minutes and pairing the French attacker next to Isak. The tactical shift lasted for only 13 minutes before Alexander Isak was withdrawn following another anonymous showing. Chiesa and Ngumoha were also thrown into the Anfield's frontline but carelessness in ball control and solid visitors' defense kept the hosts at bay.

Late blow seals the result

The visitors demonstrated the skill and cutting edge that the home team were lacking in the final third to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively