Liverpool's title defense collapsed further on Saturday as Nottingham Forest secured a commanding 3-0 victory at Anfield, inflicting the reigning champions' sixth defeat in seven Premier League games. The result dropped Liverpool to 11th place in the table and marked Forest's biggest ever win at the famous venue.
Goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White sealed a historic triumph for Sean Dyche's side, who climbed out of the relegation zone with their first back-to-back victories at Anfield since 1963.
For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, the defeat intensifies mounting pressure as his £450 million summer spending spree fails to deliver results. The reigning champions now sit eight points behind leaders Arsenal with their defensive frailties brutally exposed. Liverpool have conceded 20 league goals this season, with former striker John Aldridge describing their record as "absolutely minging" on social media.
Controversial VAR Decisions
Murillo's 33rd-minute opener sparked immediate controversy. VAR officials allowed the goal to stand despite Liverpool protests that Dan Ndoye was in an offside position blocking goalkeeper Alisson's view.
The Premier League Match Centre confirmed via social media: "The referee's call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the line of vision of Alisson and did not make an action that impacted an opponent."
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown questioned the consistency on BBC Radio 5 Live: "If you follow the mantra of last time when Robertson ducked out the way of the ball [against Man City], and here the ball goes through the legs of the player in front of Alisson. Why did that go against us last week and the opposite against us this week?"
Minutes later, Forest had a second goal disallowed when officials ruled out Igor Jesus's effort for handball. The Premier League Match Centre stated: "The referee's call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Jesus accidentally handled the ball before scoring." Pundits Ashley Williams and Mike Dean both disagreed with the decision.
Isak Gamble Backfires
Slot's decision to start £125 million record signing Alexander Isak proved disastrous. The striker, returning from injury, managed just 14 touches in 68 minutes before being substituted, with former Premier League defender Michael Dawson branding him "non-existent in this game" on Sky Sports.
Slot had defended his selection in Friday's pre-match press conference, explaining: "He just needs to become fit. That is the challenge and it is underestimated so much if you bring a player in on September 1, when the league is already three weeks in." The gamble backfired spectacularly as Isak struggled to make any impact.
The Liverpool manager made five changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Manchester City before the international break, but the tactical adjustments failed to stop the rot. Before Forest's second goal, Slot substituted defender Ibrahima Konate for striker Hugo Ekitike in a desperate attacking switch.
Crisis Talk Intensifies
Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the scale of Liverpool's problems in his post-match interview. "We concede too many easy goals," he said. "We were not good in terms of battles, challenges, the fight, too rushed. It's a very difficult situation at the moment."
Van Dijk added: "It's a problem. Everyone in the team has to take responsibility as well. We have to digest this and take it on the chin. We need to work harder. We have to keep going."
Former Liverpool striker Aldridge posted on social media: "It's looking like the Villa and Real Madrid games were a false dawn, I'm lower than a pig's belly folks!!" He compared the early fan exodus to when Liverpool beat Manchester United 7-0, adding: "That's how bad it was."
Despite the crisis, pundit Martin Keown believes Slot's job remains safe. Speaking on Final Score, he said: "I don't think you can win the league one year and get sacked the next." However, he added: "The wheels are coming off now for Arne Slot. [...] They have simply been undone. Whether it's a crisis I don't know, it's certainly a major problem for the manager to go six defeats from seven. Unthinkable."
Forest's Historic Achievement
For Nottingham Forest, the victory represents their first away win of the Premier League season and their first back-to-back victories at Anfield since 1963. Morgan Gibbs-White, who scored the third goal, told Premier League Productions: "We felt comfortable even though we didn't have the ball. We were defensively secure and that's credit to the boys and the manager. Delighted to get another goal but we got a clean sheet and three points at Anfield, which is an incredible thing."
Head coach Dyche praised his players after the match: "I am pleased for lots of reasons, but mostly for the players." He added: "Last year this football club used it as a catalyst and carried on. We hope for that."
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp urged patience for Slot despite the poor results, stating: "They [Liverpool] need to be patient, Arne Slot deserves that after last year."
Liverpool face a critical period to salvage their season as the gap to the top continues to grow.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
