Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease (3-0) by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.
Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.
Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.
Igor Jesus had a second ruled out for handball, but Forest doubled their advantage 47 seconds after the break when former Liverpool defender Neco Williams set up Nicola Savona for a crisp finish in front of The Kop.
Liverpool could barely raise a response in a desperate display, Forest increasing their lead 12 minutes from time when Morgan Gibbs-White scored after Alisson saved from Omari Hutchinson.
It means Liverpool, who lie 11th before Saturday’s late fixture, have now lost six of their past seven Premier League games as Slot’s near £450m summer spending spree comes under further scrutiny.
Forest, meanwhile, are surging away from the relegation zone and are up to 16th.
Liverpool analysis: Slot flounders as slump continues
Liverpool analysis: Slot flounders as slump continues
Liverpool head coach Slot decided to start with record signing Isak as he tried to fire up his struggling side and finally get the striker’s Anfield career going.
Instead, Isak became symbolic of a display which must rank as one of the most limp seen at Anfield in recent years, often conducted in periods of silence as disbelieving Liverpool fans watched the champions crumble once more.
Isak barely touched the ball, never posed any threat, and was actually fortunate to stay on for 67 minutes before he was finally replaced by Federico Chiesa.
He was not, however, the only guilty party on an afternoon when only Mohamed Salah showed any threat while those around him sunk without trace.
The drop in levels from last season, when Liverpool strolled to the title, is beyond alarming for Slot, who has been out of answers to solve their many problems. To suggest they can retain that crown now is a far distant dream.
Even his substitutions carried the whiff of desperation, striker Hugo Ekitike being introduced after 54 minutes for defender Ibrahima Konate.
Liverpool’s fans grumbled but did not turn on their team. It was not only this defeat, though, but the appalling manner of it that will increase pressure on Slot to work out how to get this misfiring, but expensively assembled, team at least showing something of its real form.
Forest analysis: Dyche restores order in superb fashion
Dyche has wiped the 39-day nightmare of Ange Postecoglou’s reign at Nottingham Forest from the memory banks of those fans who celebrated ecstatically at Anfield.
This was the Forest who were in Champions League contention for so long last season under Nuno Espirito Santo, and eventually secured a place in the Europa League – uncompromising and physical, but also laced with real talent and attacking danger that makes them such a threat.
Dyche was typically animated on the sidelines, but he was also clearly delighted with what he was seeing in front of him as Forest overpowered Liverpool to such an extent that there was never any hint of one of the comebacks that is an Anfield trademark.
Forest had all the Dyche hallmarks of power and organisation, but it would do them and him a grave disservice to suggest this was not a defeat that also contained some real quality, as you need to win at Liverpool.
Murillo was a rock in defence, as well as scoring a goal, while Ibrahim Sangare ruled midfield as the touches of class were applied by Elliott Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Igor Jesus also gave Virgil van Dijk and Konate an uneasy afternoon, the closing stages played out in the sort of subdued atmosphere of resignation rarely seen inside Anfield in recent years.
Forest’s league revival under Dyche continues after their win against Leeds United and draw with Manchester United.
BBC