By Olukayode Olumuyiwa.
Nottingham Forest produced one of the most surprising results of the Premier League campaign on Saturday, securing a stunning 3-0 victory over defending champions Liverpool at Anfield. The defeat is the heaviest home league defeat Liverpool have fallen to under manager Arne Slot, as their title defence continues to falter. The victory significantly boosts Forest’s survival hopes, marking the second season in a row they have won on this ground.
Early Pressure, Crucial Opener
Despite being too casual at times this season,” Liverpool started strongly and almost took the lead inside 10 minutes. A sweeping move saw Cody Gakpo set up Alexis Mac Allister a few yards from goal, but a heroic last-ditch block from Elliot Anderson kept the scores level. Mohamed Salah also created a chance, finding Milos Kerkez, who volleyed over the bar.
Against the run of play, it was Forest who took the lead:
The Liverpool defence was in rumble attempting to clear a corner. Amidst the chaos, Murillo kept a cool head and arrowed an effort into the corner of the net.
Forest thought they had doubled the advantage when Igor Jesus volleyed into the corner, but his joy was “short lived as he was adjudged to have handled before finishing.”
Second Half Collapse Seals Forest Win
The second half was expected to be one-way traffic towards the Forest goal, but instead, the visitors “incredibly doubled their lead.”
Former Liverpool man Nico Williams did the build-up work, cutting the ball back for Nicolò Savona, who swept the ball high into the roof of the net.
Manager Arne Slot responded by introducing Hugo Ekitike in a “desperate attempt to change the flow of the game, taking a defender off for an attacker. However, this shift in formation proved to be Liverpool’s undoing as they “lacked any real cohesion.
Liverpool were punished in brutal fashion 12 minutes from time. Omari Hutchinson’s stinging drive was parried to the feet of Morgan Gibbs-White, and his low left-footed effort trickled into the corner as Anfield began to empty.
The victory moves Forest clear of the drop zone to 16th on the Log. On the evidence of today’s dominant performance, manager Sean Dyche “could be the perfect man to keep Nottingham up.” G Galaxy Sports Production
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