Liverpool’s nightmare season plunged to new depths on Saturday after a dominant Nottingham Forest dismantled the defending Premier League champions 3–0 at Anfield, piling intense pressure on head coach Arne Slot and his expensively assembled squad.
Slot’s side had hoped to respond positively after their heavy loss to Manchester City, but instead they ran into a rejuvenated Forest outfit transformed under new manager Sean Dyche.
The visitors were energetic, organised and ruthless—while Liverpool looked unrecognisable from the team that strolled to the title last season.
Forest Outmuscle and Outclass Liverpool
Liverpool’s £125 million record signing Alexander Isak was handed a rare start in a bid to kickstart his faltering career at Anfield, but the striker barely influenced the game and lasted just 67 minutes.
Mohamed Salah was the only Liverpool player who looked remotely threatening as the rest of the team delivered what many fans described as one of the limpest displays seen at Anfield in years.
Forest took the lead in the 33rd minute when Murillo hammered the ball past the returning Alisson, silencing an already jittery stadium.
Igor Jesus briefly thought he had made it 2–0 before VAR ruled his goal out for handball, but Forest needed only 39 seconds after the break to double their lead. Ex-Liverpool defender Neco Williams delivered a perfect ball for Nicola Savona, who slotted home in front of the Kop.
Morgan Gibbs-White sealed the emphatic victory 12 minutes from time, reacting quickly after Alisson saved Omari Hutchinson’s effort. By then, Liverpool had long run out of ideas.
The loss means Liverpool have dropped six of their past seven league matches, leaving them 11th on the table before Saturday’s later kick-off and raising serious questions about Slot’s nearly £450 million summer spending spree.
Even his substitutions—such as bringing on striker Hugo Ekitike for defender Ibrahima Konate—were viewed as desperate attempts to spark life into a fading team.
Dyche’s Forest Look Reborn
For Forest, the transformation under Sean Dyche has been remarkable. The club has shaken off a disastrous 39-day spell under Ange Postecoglou and rediscovered the grit, structure and flair that helped them push for Champions League football last season under Nuno Espírito Santo.
At Anfield, Forest blended Dyche’s trademark power and organisation with genuine quality. Murillo was immense at the back, Ibrahim Sangare controlled the midfield, and Gibbs-White, Elliott Anderson, and Igor Jesus stretched Liverpool’s defence relentlessly.
The win lifts Forest to 16th and continues their revival following positive results against Leeds United and Manchester United.
Barnes Brace Earns Newcastle Famous Win Over Man City
Elsewhere, Newcastle United delivered one of the weekend’s biggest shocks by defeating Manchester City 2–1 in a thrilling encounter at St James’ Park.
Harvey Barnes was the hero of the night, scoring twice—including the match-winner—to hand Eddie Howe his first-ever Premier League victory over Pep Guardiola. Barnes opened the scoring early, before Ruben Dias equalised with a deflected effort for City.
Newcastle retook the lead moments later. Jacob Murphy’s delivery ricocheted off the bar via Bruno Guimaraes’ header, allowing Barnes to react quickest and stab the ball home. A lengthy VAR check for offside followed, but the goal stood, sending the home crowd into jubilation.
City dominated spells of the match and had chances to turn the tide—Phil Foden was denied a penalty, Erling Haaland missed two big opportunities, and Gianluigi Donnarumma made several strong saves—but they ultimately failed to break Newcastle’s resolve.
The defeat means City missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal, while Newcastle bounce back strongly from their pre-break loss to Brentford.
Arsenal plays Tottenham Hotspurs in the North London derby on Sunday 23rd November 2025.
