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Nottingham Forest's victory at Anfield the previous campaign was a blip in an usually commanding Premier League performances at Anfield for the Merseyside club. This recurrence now, a much more emphatic victory under their manager, was indicative of the problems engulfing the declining champions.

Forest's outstanding performance

Nottingham Forest proved exemplary as they secured their largest triumph at the famous ground. Scores from the defender, excellent at either side of the playing surface, the full-back and the superb Gibbs-White led to a merited win for a Forest side that also maintained a initial shutout in twenty Premier League fixtures.

The home side's difficulties

Liverpool, on the other hand, were a chaotic as they experienced an eighth setback in 11 games to drop into the lower half of the standings. Weak at set-plays, repeatedly, impotent in the final third, again, with Isak replaced after 68 quiet minutes, and poor in defense, they failed in every area to fall to a second successive heavy defeat.

Early pressure without reward

For half an hour the home side enjoyed the advantage, the infrequent attack from Gibbs-White aside, but the inability to turn promise into the hard currency of scores cost them dearly. the midfielder was presented with an initial opportunity from the forward's drive into the penalty area only for Anderson to deliver a brilliant goalline clearance with his head. Mac Allister had a second shot stopped soon after while impressive skill from Mohamed Salah created another near-post opening for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just succeeded to pressure the defender into firing over.

Set-play weakness afflicts again

The manager has frequently lamented the team's weakness to fast breaks and set pieces this season. There was further evidence for complaint when the visitors took the lead through a blend of the both aspects.

The Forest manager was shocked after the forward did not find Domínguez in space on the counter and allowed the defender a chance to clear. The resulting set-piece sparked jubilant reactions in the visitors' bench, though, when Elliot Anderson's delivery touched the captain to the goalscorer and the defender drilled an irresistible shot from six yards into the far corner. It brought reminders of Van Dijk's chalked-off goal against Manchester City in the away team's first goal with Ndoye positioned in an illegal position in front of Anfield's fit-again shot-stopper the goalie.

The review system calls and dispute

As expected, the Liverpool captain was swift to highlight the similarities to the match official, Andrew Madley. In contrast to Robertson at the Manchester, the forward made no clear action in front of the goalkeeper and the goal remained. The league clarified: "The on-field decision of valid strike was reviewed and confirmed by the video system – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the line of vision of Alisson and made no an move that influenced an player."

Liverpool were reprieved by the officiating team and video review 120 seconds following when Igor Jesus believed he had increased the visitors' cushion.

The defender, who suffered a terrible afternoon, made an feeble effort to clear an the midfielder's delivery and turned the object against the forward, who controlled before slotting the net of Alisson's goal. Madley, in contact with his linesman, chalked off the strike for a handling that several reviews found it hard to prove or deny. League officials announced: "The ruling of disallowed strike was assessed and supported by the video assistant – with it judged that the player unintentionally controlled the sphere before netting."

Second score extends lead

Any hope from the let-off. Within seconds of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister did not intercept a pass towards the defender inside the home box. Williams spun away from his defender and laid the visitors' second on a platter for teammate full back the scorer, who located the keeper's roof of the net with a composed side-foot finish.

Strategic adjustments do not work

Liverpool's coach went for broke, replacing the defender with Hugo Ekitiké after 55 minutes and using the France attacker with Isak. This change lasted all of a short period before Isak was substituted following one more ineffective display. the winger and Rio Ngumoha were additionally added to the Liverpool attack but carelessness in ball control and sturdy Forest defending kept the home side at distance.

Concluding strike seals the outcome

Forest displayed the skill and incisiveness that Liverpool were lacking in the opposition half to put the contest {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively