Anfield's team in crisis as Nottingham Forest conquer Anfield again with a convincing victory
Forest's win here last season was a blip in an typically strong Premier League home campaign for the hosts. This recurrence now, a far more convincing triumph under their manager, was symptomatic of the issues engulfing the struggling former winners.
The visitors' outstanding showing
Forest were exemplary as they recorded their largest win at Anfield. Goals from Murillo, outstanding at both ends of the field, Savona and the exceptional Gibbs-White led to a well-earned success for a Forest side that also secured a maid clean sheet in twenty top-flight matches.
The home side's woes
Liverpool, on the other hand, were a disorganized as they suffered an eighth setback in 11 matches to drop into the bottom half of the league. Weak at dead-ball situations, again, unproductive in offense, again, with Alexander Isak substituted after 68 uninfluential moments, and poor in defense, they failed in all departments to fall to a back-to-back 3-0 defeat.
Opening dominance lacking result
For the opening half-hour Liverpool maintained the initiative, the infrequent attack from the Forest attacker aside, but the inability to turn promise into the actual outcome of goals hurt them significantly. the midfielder was presented with an initial chance from Gakpo's run into the penalty area only for Anderson to execute a brilliant line save with his head. He had a second shot deflected moments later while impressive footwork from Salah set up another short-distance opportunity for Milos Kerkez. The visiting defender just succeeded to pressure the defender into firing over.
Set-piece weakness afflicts once more
Arne Slot has frequently criticized Liverpool's vulnerability to transitions and dead balls in the current campaign. There was further evidence for frustration when Forest opened the scoring through a mix of the both aspects.
Dyche was aghast after the forward failed to find Domínguez in room on the fast attack and presented Konaté opportunity to clear. The resulting set-piece caused jubilant moments in the Forest dugout, nevertheless, when Anderson's ball glanced off the captain to the goalscorer and the central defender hammered an unstoppable shot from close range into the back of the net. This evoked similarities of the captain's disallowed strike against Manchester City in the Forest's first goal with the forward standing in an offside position in front of the home side's recovered keeper the Brazilian.
VAR decisions and debate
As expected, the Liverpool captain was prompt to highlight the parallels to the match official, Madley. However, unlike Andy Robertson at the Etihad Stadium, Dan Ndoye made no obvious movement in front of the goalkeeper and the strike stood. Officials clarified: "The on-field decision of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the sightline of Alisson and did not make an action that influenced an defender."
The Reds were saved by the referees and VAR two minutes after when Igor Jesus was convinced he had increased Forest's cushion.
Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a terrible afternoon, made an feeble attempt to deal with an the midfielder's cross and turned the sphere against the Forest striker, who handled before slotting the lower corner of the goalkeeper's net. Madley, in communication with his assistant, chalked off the strike for a handling that multiple reviews struggled to verify or deny. The authority stated: "The referee's call of no goal was reviewed and upheld by VAR – with it considered that Jesus unintentionally handled the sphere before scoring."
Second goal increases cushion
That was the end of the let-off. Almost immediately of the resumption Alexis Mac Allister was unable to intercept a pass towards Neco Williams inside the home 18-yard box. The former Liverpool defender spun away from his defender and set up their next goal on a platter for partner full back the scorer, who located the keeper's top corner with a calm side-foot finish.
Strategic changes do not work
The manager went for broke, substituting Konaté with Ekitiké after just before the hour and pairing the Les Bleus forward alongside Isak. That experiment continued just a short period before Isak was withdrawn following one more anonymous display. Chiesa and Ngumoha were further introduced to the Liverpool attack but inefficiency in possession and resolute visitors' defense prevented the hosts at distance.
Late strike confirms the result
The visitors displayed the skill and penetration that the home team were lacking in the final third to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively