Nottingham Forest went to Liverpool on the back of winning consecutive away games (Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers) so they had reasons to be optimistic but it was not to be a hat-trick of wins.
**Everton,**who had lost two of their last three home games, put in a great performance, particularly midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The home side deserve a lot of credit.
It just was not Forest's day and when Everton took the lead after just the second minute, a deflection from Nicola Milenkovic put it in the net, they never really recovered.
The best chance for Sean Dyche's side came when **Nicolas Dominguez**saw an effort cleared off the line and, had that gone in, it may have gone on to be a different game. A flurry of chances never followed though and it ended in disappointment. Some of the travelling fans made the decision to head for the exits before the full-time whistle went.
It is a game that will leave Forest fans with some questions because, after the undoubted improvements since Dyche arrived, some fans may suggest that performances have dropped, and it is now two defeats in the last three games. They did claim the three points at Wolves in the week, but some fans were also not overly impressed with that 1-0 win.
Here are four takeaways from the Everton game.
Issues at the back?
There is little doubt that, defensively, it was not a good display. Dyche will be frustrated most by that because his sides are often built on a solid, defensive structure. They have looked a lot better at the back since Dyche's arrival, but that was not the case here. Conceding three in any game is never a good sign.
Forest remain without Murillo, who has been sidelined due to injury and illness. Most fans would probably say that he has been missed. He is someone who is confident on the ball and can play the pass to get his team up the pitch. He is also a natural leader and a calming influence.
Moratowas caught out for Everton's second goal, and Milenkovic was left exposed and could not deal with the pace ofThierno Barry on the counterattack, as it was too late by this point. Milenkovic is usually a solid option at the back and will bounce back, but it was not his finest game either.
Forest right back, Nicolo Savona, received a yellow card in the first minute of the game and was replaced by academy graduate Zach Abbott at halftime.
Abbott is a player who is rated highly by the club and fans. On a day when no player in red stood out, Abbott's display was a confident Premier League debut.
He has previously played in the cup competitions and the UEFA Europa League, but now has experienced the Premier League. This will be good news for Forest because it was not the easiest game to come into when his side were two down. Over the coming weeks, with the number of games coming up, Dyche may turn to Abbott more often.
Was the physicality of the game lacking for Forest?
Everton are a strong opposition and find themselves seventh in the table, but some will say that Forest made it too easy forthe Toffees. Again, Dyche's sides are often built on the toughness and physicality of the game, so he will be frustrated with the nature of the defeat.
With the added involvement of European football this year, Forest have played a lot of games, but Dyche will not be accepting any excuses from his side.
The goals were avoidable, as mistakes at the back ultimately led to Everton's first two goals. Going forward, they did not really test Jordan Pickford as Morgan Gibbs-White struggled to make any impact, and it was an unusually quiet day for Elliot Anderson, too. Some will say that on several occasions, Forest were simply outmuscled by Everton.
Where does this leave Forest?
There will be mixed opinions at the moment, as it is just a second defeat in the last six games across all competitions. They may view it as a day they will put down as just a bad day at the office and one to learn from, but to move on from pretty quickly.
That said, it will be a concern because it was not a good performance. There was a new-manager bounce when Dyche arrived, and fans will be hoping that it is not over yet. They know their team has qualit,y but will come away from this one with a feeling of embarrassment and disappointment. It may have been a game where fans felt confident of getting something from it.
There are big games to come, and the points that Leeds United have picked up this last week will add to their worry. Forest are now level on points (15) with Leeds, and they are both outside of the drop zone, but only by two points.
Next up is a European game before Tottenham Hotspur visit the City Ground. Once again, the league game will likely take priority at the moment.
It feels like these next few Premier League games for Forest could be season-defining. Fans will want to know what the 'real' Nottingham Forest look like this season. Is it the side that won 3-0 at Liverpool or those who lost 3-0 across the city at Everton?
They probably will not be panicking just yet, but it is certain that there is a lot of room for improvement after this game. It is a harsh reminder, if they needed one, that in this league, you have to be at your best; otherwise, you will likely get punished.