Nottingham Forest produced one of the most unexpected results of the Premier League weekend with a commanding three goal win over Liverpool at Anfield, a result that lifted Sean Dyche’s side out of the relegation zone and deepened the champions’ struggles.
Murillo opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after Liverpool failed to clear a corner, allowing the defender to drive the ball into the bottom left corner. Forest briefly thought they had doubled their lead when Igor Jesus beat Alisson, but the effort was overturned after a VAR check ruled the ball had brushed his arm in the build up.
Forest returned from the break with renewed intent and found a second goal just 39 seconds into the half. Neco Williams pushed through Liverpool’s left side before squaring for Nicolo Savona, who placed his finish from close range. The home side continued to labour in attack, offering little threat despite Arne Slot’s double change which introduced Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa.
Their woes worsened in the 78th minute when Morgan Gibbs White reacted quickest after Alisson parried Omari Hutchinson’s curling shot, sweeping home Forest’s third to seal a result that left the home crowd stunned. Forest climbed to sixteenth place with the win, while Liverpool slipped to eleventh and risk falling further behind leaders Arsenal as the weekend unfolds.
Liverpool’s bright start did little to steady them. Early chances created by Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah were either blocked or skewed wide, and the champions soon found themselves struggling to break through Forest’s compact defensive structure. Virgil van Dijk’s partial clearance created the opening for Murillo’s goal, while Konate narrowly avoided further trouble when Jesus outmuscled him for the disallowed effort.
Liverpool’s attacking frustrations continued, with Matz Sels stopping efforts from Salah and Alexis Mac Allister. The Argentine midfielder was then beaten too easily by Williams in the build up to Savona’s goal. Slot’s changes midway through the second half did not alter the rhythm of the match, and Forest punished another lapse when they scored from a quickly taken free kick.
Forest’s display echoed memories of last season under Nuno Espirito Santo, when a well organised side earned a famous win at Anfield. Dyche’s players combined disciplined defending with energetic forward runs led by Dan Ndoye and Gibbs White, who frequently relieved pressure and disrupted Liverpool’s momentum.
With a Europa League fixture against Malmo approaching and Brighton next in the league, Forest carry renewed belief from a performance that hinted at a revived spirit under their new manager. Liverpool now face urgent questions as they prepare for PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League before travelling to West Ham United.
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