By Frank Ulom
ANFIELD (CONVERSEER) – Liverpool’s troubled Premier League title defence suffered a severe setback on Saturday as Nottingham Forest overpowered the Reds 3–0 at Anfield, piling pressure on manager Arne Slot after a match dominated by VAR controversy and defensive lapses.
Forest displayed sharpness and organisation from the outset, taking full advantage of Liverpool’s missed opportunities. Alexis Mac Allister and Milos Kerkez both came close to opening the scoring, but their failure to convert proved costly.
Moments later, Murillo punished poor defending from a corner, calmly finishing after Liverpool failed to clear their lines. The decision stood despite protests, with VAR ruling that Dan Ndoye was not obstructing goalkeeper Alisson even though he stood close to his line of vision.
Forest appeared to double their lead shortly afterwards through Igor Jesus, but the forward was penalised for handball when controlling Ibrahima Konaté’s attempted clearance. The decision sparked further debate, with many deeming the call harsh.
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Whatever was said in the Liverpool dressing room at half-time had little effect, as Forest returned with renewed energy. Neco Williams broke free inside the box before setting up Nicolo Savona, who fired home to make it 2–0. Liverpool struggled to respond, and their defensive frailties resurfaced late in the game.
Morgan Gibbs-White added a third in the 78th minute, finishing a flowing Forest attack and silencing the home crowd. The result leaves Liverpool searching for answers after an alarming performance marked by disorganisation and missed chances.
For Nottingham Forest, the victory represents one of their strongest away displays this season, while for Slot, it raises further uncertainty over Liverpool’s direction in a challenging campaign.
