Liverpool fell to a sixth Premier League loss in their last seven games as Nottingham Forest romped to a deserved 3-0 victory at Anfield – but it was not without its share of controversy.
A fortnight after VAR had intervened to rule out Virgil Van Dijk’s equaliser against Manchester City, scored under similar circumstances, the technology failed to act when Murillo struck past Alisson from a corner, with Dan Ndoye stood in an offside position.
The Premier League’s match centre said “Ndoye was not in the line of vision of Alisson”, despite being stood in front of him. Forest could and probably should have been two ahead when Igor Jesus volleyed into the far corner moments later, but on-field referee Andy Madley had spotted a debatable handball – a decision ratified by VAR.
“I am astounded this has been ruled out,” said Michael Dawson on Soccer Saturday.
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The Soccer Saturday team react to Igor Jesus’ disallowed goal against Liverpool.
Team news
Liverpool: Arne Slot made five changes from the demolition at Man City last time out. Alisson returned in goal as Alexander Isak got the nod up top.
Nottingham Forest: Sean Dyche named an unchanged side after beating Leeds in last outing.
It looked like Liverpool had survived the scare, but 39 seconds into the second half the situation worsened, with the only point of contention concerning how poor the defending was. Neco Williams skipped over a couple of half-hearted challenges before Nicolo Savona hammered home to make it 2-0.
The visitors signed off by adding a third via Morgan Gibbs-White, teed up wonderfully by Omari Hutchinson, who ghosted by Andy Robertson as if he was not there. The reigning champions drop into the bottom half of the table as a result, while Forest rise out of the relegation zone after back-to-back wins under new boss Sean Dyche.
Not since 1965 under Bill Shankly have Liverpool lost consecutive matches by a margin of three+ goals.
Liverpool sink to new low
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Liverpool caught in disarray after sixth defeat of Premier League season
Analysis by Laura Hunter at Anfield:
No doubt Murillo was the star of the show at both ends of the pitch, but what will be of chief concern to Arne Slot are the anonymous stars of his show. Liverpool’s big players have gone missing.
Mohamed Salah started well and quickly faded – Federico Chiesa generated more xG value than him and played 68 minutes fewer. Alexander Isak was non-existent. By the time he was hooked for Chiesa, he had lost every one of the seven duels he had contested. He is the only Liverpool player in the Premier League era to end on the losing side in each of his first four starts. Performances will tell you that is for good reason.
Alexis Mac Allister fluffed the one big chance Liverpool created, which was before Forest took the lead. This is a new low, especially at Anfield. How can a team with a 74 per cent share of possession concede enough chances to ship three goals? They finished the game with two midfielders playing across their defensive line – perhaps that explains it.
Set-pieces are a problem, too, conceding from nine – as many as the entirety of last season.
Crisis has morphed into catastrophe with no signs of slowing. Slot needs a comprehensive review of failings and a plan to stem the flow, before this quickly turns into one of the shoddiest attempts at a title defence the Premier League has ever seen.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (6), Szoboszlai (6), Konate (5), Van Dijk (5), Kerkez (5), Jones (6), Gravenberch (5), Mac Allister (5), Salah (4), Isak (3), Gakpo (5).
Subs: Ekitike (5), Chiesa (6), Robertson (4), Ngumoha (n/a)
Nott’m Forest: Sels (6), Williams (7), Murillo (8), Milenkovic (7), Savona (7), Anderson (7), Sangare (6), Dominguez (6), Gibbs-White (7), Ndoye (6), Jesus (6).
Subs: Hutchinson (7), Yates (n/a), Hudson-Odoi.
Player of the Match: Murillo
Van Dijk: We have to look in mirror
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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk reflects on a disappointing 0-3 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk:
“There’s nervousness after we conceded. You sensed that we were trying to rush things, to get the equaliser as soon as possible. We’re just in a very, very difficult moment, and we have to get out of this. I’d rather do it by talking in the dressing room than speaking to you guys.
“We have to take responsibility. Football is a team game. We have to digest this, take it on the chin and work harder. I’ve said that quite a lot this season, it’s not been working out, but we need to keep going.
“The atmosphere, in my eyes, is very bad. We need to look in the mirror.”
Slot accepts responsibility for baron run
Liverpool boss Arne Slot:
“Losing 3-0 at home is a very, very bad result. Unexpected if you look at the first half hour. I hadn’t seen us creating that much all season, we were able to create a lot. It’s a very difficult cocktail to drink if you create a lot of chances and then every time you concede one, the opposition score.
“When we win or lose, it’s my responsibility. We’ve been the dominant team, lately it’s always constantly that we miss our chances and the ones we concede go in.
“Of course, there is a way out with the quality players we have. I’m responsible for the current losses. I can never come up with enough excuses for us to have the results we have. That is far from good enough and I’m responsible for that.”
On the contentious opening goal, Slot said: “After the game people tell me he’s in an offside position. I have to see it back. No one wants to hear me talk about refereeing decisions when we’ve lost 3-0. But it does show you how a goal can change momentum.”
Winning ‘different way’ pleases Dyche
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche:
“I spoke openly when I first got here, the players have been trying to realign with three different managers in quick succession. It’s a solid marker against a top side today. It’s to be enjoyed, a win at Anfield. But we’ve got to go again.
“Everything isn’t solved, but it’s a good, strong marker. We changed the tactical style massively, we’re not passing out, forget about that. We went long because they were going to press the life out of us.
“I know we’ve got players that can play and play good football, but we needed to mix it tactically today. We managed to get a foothold of sorts and then score a goal. Our shape and basics were really good after that. It’s a different way of winning but it’s still a way.
“How do you win football matches without the ball? That’s what we’ve been speaking about. I’m super pleased with that. The players have delivered the plan really well.”
Story of the match in stats…
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