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The away side's win here last season was a blip in an usually commanding English top division home record for the Merseyside club. Their repeat now, a far more convincing success under Sean Dyche, was a clear sign of the issues afflicting the struggling title holders.

The visitors' outstanding showing

Forest were impressive as they recorded their biggest victory at Anfield. Strikes from the Brazilian, excellent at both ends of the field, Savona and the superb the playmaker led to a well-earned success for a squad that also secured a first clean sheet in 20 Premier League matches.

Liverpool's struggles

The Reds, by contrast, were a mess as they endured an 8th loss in 11 games to fall into the lower half of the standings. Weak at dead-ball situations, once more, ineffectual in offense, again, with Isak replaced after sixty-eight uninfluential moments, and poor in defense, they faltered in each phase to yield to a second successive heavy loss.

Initial dominance without reward

For the opening half-hour the home side held the advantage, the infrequent break from Gibbs-White excepted, but the inability to convert chances into the actual outcome of scores proved costly. Alexis Mac Allister was presented with an initial opening from the forward's surge into the penalty area only for Elliot Anderson to produce a excellent goalline clearance with his head. Mac Allister had a another effort deflected shortly after while dazzling control from Mohamed Salah set up another near-post opportunity for Milos Kerkez. A Forest defender just managed to pressure the full-back into sending high.

Set-piece vulnerability afflicts repeatedly

The manager has repeatedly criticized his side's vulnerability to counterattacks and dead balls in the current campaign. He was given new reason for complaint when Forest opened the scoring through a mix of the each weakness.

Sean Dyche was surprised after the forward did not pass to Nicolás Domínguez in an open area on the counter and presented the defender opportunity to clear. The resulting corner sparked ecstatic moments in the visitors' bench, though, when the midfielder's delivery deflected off Van Dijk to Murillo and the centre-half drilled an irresistible strike from six yards into the back of the net. There were echoes of the defender's disallowed strike against City in the visitors' initial score with Ndoye located in an illegal position in front of Liverpool's recovered goalkeeper Alisson.

VAR rulings and dispute

Predictably, the the skipper was swift to mention the similarities to the official, the ref. In contrast to Andy Robertson at the Manchester, Dan Ndoye made no obvious gesture in front of Alisson and the goal was given. The league stated: "The on-field decision of a score was examined and confirmed by the video system – with it deemed that the player was outside of the view of the goalkeeper and did not make an interference that impacted an opponent."

The Reds were saved by the officiating team and video review two minutes later when Igor Jesus thought he had doubled Forest's advantage.

Konaté, who suffered a poor day, made an weak try to clear an Sangaré's cross and directed the object against the attacker, who brought down before slotting the lower corner of the goalkeeper's goal. Andrew Madley, in communication with his assistant referee, disallowed the effort for a handball that multiple reviews found it hard to verify or disprove. The authority stated: "The ruling of invalid score was reviewed and supported by the video assistant – with it considered that the player accidentally touched the object before finishing."

Follow-up strike increases cushion

Any hope from the reprieve. Within seconds of the restart the midfielder failed to stop a pass towards Neco Williams inside the home box. The full-back spun away from his defender and laid the visitors' second on a silver platter for partner defender the scorer, who picked out the keeper's top corner with a composed accurate strike.

Strategic substitutions do not work

Liverpool's coach took risks, substituting Ibrahima Konaté with Hugo Ekitiké after just before the hour and partnering the France striker next to the Swede. This change lasted all of a short period before Alexander Isak was substituted following another anonymous display. the winger and Ngumoha were also introduced to the Liverpool attack but carelessness in ball control and resolute Forest defending prevented the hosts at arm's length.

Concluding goal confirms the result

Forest demonstrated the finesse and incisiveness that the home team were without in the attacking phase to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively