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The away side's success here the previous campaign appeared a one-off in an typically strong English top division home record for the hosts. This recurrence in the current campaign, a far more convincing victory under their manager, was a clear sign of the issues afflicting the struggling title holders.

Forest's superb performance

Forest were exemplary as they secured their biggest triumph at Liverpool's home. Scores from Murillo, excellent at either side of the field, Nicolò Savona and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White spurred a well-earned win for a team that also secured a initial shutout in twenty division games.

The home side's difficulties

The Reds, by contrast, were a disorganized as they endured an eighth defeat in 11 games to drop into the second tier of the standings. Ineffective at set-plays, repeatedly, ineffectual in the final third, again, with Isak substituted after sixty-eight anonymous period, and defensively weak, they failed in each phase to yield to a second successive heavy defeat.

Early pressure missing result

For the opening half-hour the home side enjoyed the advantage, the sporadic break from Morgan Gibbs-White apart, but the failure to convert chances into the tangible reward of finishes cost them dearly. Mac Allister was given an early chance from Gakpo's drive into the box only for Anderson to execute a brilliant goalline clearance with his head. He had a another effort deflected shortly after while impressive skill from Mohamed Salah set up another near-post opening for Milos Kerkez. The visiting defender just succeeded to disturb the full-back into firing over.

Dead-ball vulnerability afflicts again

Arne Slot has frequently bemoaned his side's vulnerability to fast breaks and dead balls this season. There was new reason for concern when the visitors opened the scoring through a combination of the both aspects.

The Forest manager was aghast after Jesus was unable to release Nicolás Domínguez in room on the fast attack and allowed Ibrahima Konaté a chance to intercept. The resulting corner kick sparked ecstatic moments in the visitors' bench, nevertheless, when Elliot Anderson's ball deflected off Virgil van Dijk to Murillo and the centre-half hammered an unstoppable strike from six yards into the back of the net. It brought echoes of the defender's chalked-off finish against City in the away team's opener with Dan Ndoye positioned in an offside position in front of Liverpool's recovered keeper Alisson.

Video Assistant Referee decisions and controversy

As expected, the the skipper was swift to highlight the similarities to the match official, the ref. However, unlike the full-back at the City's ground, Ndoye made no obvious action in front of the goalkeeper and the strike was given. The league confirmed: "The referee's call of goal was checked and confirmed by the assistant – with it deemed that Ndoye was outside of the sightline of the keeper and avoided an move that affected an player."

Liverpool were reprieved by the match officials and VAR a short time later when Igor Jesus was convinced he had added to the visitors' advantage.

Ibrahima Konaté, who experienced a poor match, made an feeble try to clear an the midfielder's ball and deflected the ball against the Forest striker, who brought down before slotting the bottom corner of the goalkeeper's posts. The referee, in contact with his linesman, disallowed the effort for a handball that multiple reviews were unable to confirm or deny. The authority stated: "The ruling of disallowed strike was reviewed and supported by the video assistant – with it deemed that Jesus inadvertently touched the sphere before netting."

Second goal increases lead

That was the end of the reprieve. Within seconds of the kick-off Alexis Mac Allister was unable to intercept a pass towards Williams inside the home 18-yard box. The full-back turned from his defender and laid their next goal on a platter for teammate defender Savona, who picked out the keeper's upper corner with a calm side-foot finish.

Strategic adjustments fail

Arne Slot went for broke, bringing off Ibrahima Konaté with Hugo Ekitiké after the 55th minute and partnering the France striker with Alexander Isak. That experiment persisted for only 13 minutes before the striker was replaced following another ineffective showing. Federico Chiesa and the youngster were further added to the Liverpool attack but carelessness in play and resolute visitors' defense kept the Reds at distance.

Final goal seals the outcome

Forest displayed the skill and cutting edge that Liverpool were without in the final third to decide the game {beyond doubt|out of reach|conclusively