Liverpool thumped at home by Forest as Arne Slot crisis worsens - 5 talking points

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Liverpool's Premier League title defence is in tatters after Nottingham Forest dished out another defeat to the champions. Sean Dyche's side put in a strong display to win 3-0 at Anfield and sent the Reds into 11th.

Forest struck first when Elliot Anderson's corner eventually fell to Murillo, who smashed in an effort from 12 yards out after a smart first touch. It didn't come without controversy, with Dan Ndoye standing in an offside position , but the visitors had the lead after 33 minutes.

Moments later, Igor Jesus was wheeling away in celebration, but saw his joy cut short as Andy Madley judged him to have handled the ball before finding the net. Replays were not clear but the score remained 1-0 .

Forest were not to be deterred and wasted little time making an impact in the second period. Nicolo Savona took just 39 seconds to pass it into the net from Neco Williams' pull-back.

Liverpool's malaise could only continue when Morgan Gibbs-White added a third in the 79th minute. The midfielder scored after Alisson saved Omari Hutchinson's effort, for his third goal in as many games.

Mirror Football takes a look at the talking points that arose as Liverpool slumped to a sixth defeat.

Any questions over who Liverpool's No.1 option is were swiftly put to rest on Saturday. The Brazilian returned in goal after more than a month out of action, with Giorgi Mamardashvili deputising in his absence.

The Georgian knew when he signed that he would have a difficult task to usurp Alisson, and now the scale of that will be painfully clear. Alisson's two weeks of training were enough to hand the gloves back to the Liverpool icon.

Saturday's game did not offer a joyful return for Alisson, however. Any slip-ups Liverpool suffered with Mamardashvili may now see the blame turned elsewhere.

Speaking before confirming Alexander Isak in his starting XI, Arne Slot revealed that the forward would earn minutes ahead of more match-fit team-mates .

The Dutchman said: “I do know that 100 per cent fit ­Alexander Isak is a big, big, big plus for this team. But for him to get there, he might need to have minutes where you could argue that another player might be further ahead of him in terms of match fitness."

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“I can see in training sessions, if he is fully rested, then you can see his ­quality," Slot added. "We play in short spaces, so the ball comes a lot to him. But 11 v 11 on a big pitch, there is a lot of running and not much touching the ball. It will still take a bit of time but he will end up being the player he was at Newcastle if we get him fit.”

Should that time come at the expense of Hugo Ekitike who hit the ground running at Liverpool? It's getting harder and harder to argue that it should.

Isak's efforts were largely fruitless across his 68 minutes. Liverpool racked up shots, but the Swede did not, apart from a wild slice in the second period.

Another week and another player in an offside position while a goal is scored. The coincidence that Liverpool see a goal given after Virgil van Dijk's effort was ruled out against Manchester City last time out, is almost unbelievable.

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Liverpool wrote to PGMOL on that occasion, and it appears that they were wrongfully denied a goal. They can't have too many complaints this time then, right? Arne Slot certainly didn't look happy in his technical area. Football is a cruel sport.

Former referee Mike Dean gave his view: "What happened the other week [Virgil van Dijk disallowed goal vs Man City] where they gave an incorrect decision. This for me, is a goal, it goes round the attacker on the right hand side, he's got a clear view."

The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the line of vision of Allison and did not make an action that impacted an opponent.

Another moment of debate just minutes after the first. It's safe to say some did not think Jesus handled the ball.

Former Wales defender Ashley Williams said: "I'm seeing two angles of the goal and on neither angle can I see where it touches the arm at all. It hits Jesus between the chest and the stomach. That goal should stand."

Martin Keown was at a loss too. "It looks like the ball came up and hit Jesus on his ribcage," he said. "Surely VAR have seen something to chalk it off. I can't see the hand."

Premier League match centre explained the decision."The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Jesus accidentally handled the ball before scoring."

All clear?

Even in their spectacular title-winning season, Liverpool didn't pick up three points against Forest. The Midlands club earned a win at Anfield and claimed a draw at the City Ground when few stood in the Reds' way.

On this occasion, Liverpool were dismantled. They had more shots and possession, but never looked like they would come back once they were behind.

The Reds have now lost as many games as they have won in the Premier League, while Sean Dyche has secured an impressive start with Forest.

Liverpool are also making a habit of conceding three goals. Saturday's visitors follow in the footsteps of Crystal Palace and Manchester City.

It all hits harder in a home defeat.

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