LIVERPOOL, England (BN24) — Nottingham Forest delivered a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, tightening the pressure on the defending Premier League champions and extending a steep decline that has reshaped the early-season standings.
Forest took control midway through the first half when Murillo broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. The Brazilian defender reacted sharply after a corner confused the penalty area, sweeping his finish beyond Alisson and silencing the home crowd. The goal punctuated a period in which Liverpool struggled to maintain possession, with Forest repeatedly disrupting their buildup play.
Liverpool began the second half seeking a lift, but Forest struck again before momentum could shift. Nicolo Savona doubled the visitors’ advantage shortly after the restart, finishing clinically to extend the gap and deepen the frustration inside Anfield. Forest continued to press higher up the pitch, capitalizing on Liverpool’s inability to impose structure or sustain attacks.
Any faint hopes of a Liverpool comeback faded with 12 minutes left when Morgan Gibbs-White secured Forest’s third. After Alisson parried Omari Hutchinson’s effort, Gibbs-White was quickest to the rebound, steering the ball into the net and sealing the outcome. The goal reflected the broader pattern of the match: loose marking, slow reactions and a Liverpool side visibly drained of confidence.
The defeat marked Liverpool’s sixth loss in their last seven Premier League matches and their second consecutive home defeat to Forest. The champions now sit eight points behind league leaders Arsenal and have lost eight of their past 11 matches in all competitions. The 3-0 margin also made unwelcome history, with Liverpool losing back-to-back league matches by three goals for the first time since 1965.
Manager Arne Slot acknowledged Friday that the squad remains emotionally affected by the death of Diogo Jota in a July crash in Spain. That lingering grief appeared again in the performance, as Liverpool produced another low-energy display marked by slow ball movement and a lack of urgency in midfield.
Liverpool’s slump arrives despite a summer spending spree exceeding £400 million. Among the new arrivals is striker Alexander Isak, who joined for a British-record fee from Newcastle. Isak was substituted during the second half of his fourth Premier League start for the club. The Swedish international is yet to score in the league for Liverpool, adding to the growing concerns surrounding the team’s attack.
Forest’s strong showing left Liverpool languishing in 11th place, far adrift of the title pace and struggling to regain any rhythm. The result highlighted the widening gulf between Liverpool’s preseason expectations and their current form, as pressure mounts on the squad to arrest an alarming downturn.
