Liverpool lost for the sixth time in seven Premier League matches as the brilliant Nottingham Forest ran riot at Anfield to leave Arne Slot's side in a full-blown crisis
Alexander Isak's Liverpool struggles continued against Nottingham Forest
Alexander Isak's Liverpool struggles continued against Nottingham Forest
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With just over 20 minutes of regulation time remaining, £165million worth of talent sat down and put its coat on.
If Anfield wanted a snapshot of Liverpool’s early season troubles, then they need not have looked any further than the sight of Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez walking to the dugout, their team stumbling to a sixth Premier League defeat of the season.
Not just a sixth Premier League defeat but a serious beating, a hammering at the hands of a quite wonderful Nottingham Forest. Liverpool’s expensive summer is threatening to bring a bleak winter.
And while it is grossly unfair to single out one of Slot’s players for criticism - they were all woefully under par - Isak’s record-breaking price tag means it is inevitable the Swedish striker will come under negative scrutiny.
Slot has frequently referred to the physical condition of Isak, suggesting before kick-off that his £125million striker - who chose to miss Newcastle United’s pre-season programme - was still not as fit as the Liverpool manager and staff would like.
Considering December is on the doorstep, that is an odd state of affairs. But judging by Isak’s exertions in this contest, that suggestion seemed to be on the money.
The Swedish striker is not big on hard-pressing. In fact, he was not big on getting involved in any way during the first half-hour, five inconsequential touches testament to that.
But to be fair, he was not alone in struggling to make a mark on proceedings in which Forest never looked anything but comfortable. There had barely been a single moment of quality before Murillo drilled home the opening goal after Liverpool had failed to clear a corner.
There was some home dissent over a Forest player, Dan Ndoye, standing in an offside position - with reference to Andy Robertson being penalised at the Etihad - but at least Liverpool were given compensation when it was scandalously decided that Igor Jesus had been guilty of handball before driving in what he thought was Forest’s second.
It's now six defeats in seven for the Premier League champions
It's now six defeats in seven for the Premier League champions
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It was truly a bizarrely poor decision, which is why the neutral would have welcomed Nicola Savona’s tidy finish moments after the interval.
It was a nice execution from Savona but owed a lot to the industry of Neco Williams, once of these parts. It was a level of industry that Liverpool emphatically failed to match.
Forest were excellent all over the pitch and, in Elliot Anderson, had the game’s outstanding player.
Sean Dyche, as you would imagine, has them immaculately organised and Morgan Gibbs-White, who added a well-taken third to complete a sensational win, is not alone in recapturing his best form for the relatively new boss.
But Slot’s side were alarmingly listless. Again, do not allow Liverpool’s lack of lustre to take any shine from Forest’s dazzling endeavours, but so many Liverpool players were beaten in individual duels.
Murillo celebrates after scoring a goal
Nottingham Forest were outstanding as they dismantled Liverpool
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Murillo and Ibrahim Sangare did not come out second best in any challenges with Isak or Hugo Ekitike, who was sent on early in the second half. Unlike the outstanding Omari Hutchinson, none of Slot’s substitutes made any sort of impact.
Unthinkably - especially when you recall the five Premier League wins on the spin that started their title defence - Liverpool now sit in the bottom half of the table.
Realistically, that title defence is over.
As they should, the home fans made a decent fist of rallying round their heavily beaten team but this must go down as one of the worst performances and results under Slot.
And, of course, this - and the five other Premier League defeats - are only viewed in a harsher light when put into the context of a transfer window that saw them spend over £440million on players.
Isak and the rest of those players might eventually come good but, for now, to say it is not looking like money well spent is the understatement of this Premier League season.