It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. Nottingham Forest walked into Anfield Stadium on November 22, 2025, and dismantled the reigning Liverpool — 3-0. No fluke. No lucky bounce. Three clinical goals, a rock-solid defense, and a performance that left the home crowd stunned. The final whistle blew at 90'+5', and the scoreboard told the truth: Liverpool, last season’s champions, are in freefall. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest, once a club fighting to avoid relegation, are suddenly the talk of English football.
The Goals That Shook Anfield
It started with Murillo, the Brazilian center-back, rising above the chaos in the 33rd minute to head home a corner from Nicolò Savona. Anfield fell silent. Then, barely 40 seconds after halftime, Savona — yes, him again — pounced on a loose ball after a failed clearance and slotted it past Alisson Becker. No celebration. Just a nod. He knew what this meant.The killer came in the 78th minute. Morgan Gibbs-White finished off a counterattack that began with Nikola Milenković shutting down Mohamed Salah in the 485th second — a tackle so decisive, NBC Sports called it "closed the door emphatically." From there, Elliot Anderson (misnamed as "Amari Hutcherson" in commentary) drove forward, drew two defenders, and laid it off to Gibbs-White. One touch. One finish. The crowd didn’t boo. They just… stopped breathing.
A Collapse in Plain Sight
Liverpool finished last season on top. Now, after 12 games, they’re seventh — 18 points, six wins, six losses, goal difference minus two. Zero draws. Zero rhythm. Their defense, once the bedrock of European dominance, is leaking like a sieve. Virgil van Dijk looked old. Ibrahima Konaté looked lost. And Alisson, the world-class goalkeeper, was powerless.Manager Arne Slot has inherited a mess. He didn’t build this team. He’s trying to fix it — but the players look disconnected. The pressing game? Gone. The transitions? Slow. The belief? Eroding. NBC Sports captured it best: "The feelgood factor is growing under Sha Dich" — a nickname for Nuno Espírito Santo — "while Liverpool’s malaise continues."
Forest’s Rise: A Masterclass in Resilience
Nottingham Forest haven’t been here before. Not in this way. They’re 10th now, with 12 points — a far cry from their 2024 relegation battle. But this win? It’s different. It’s the kind that changes a club’s DNA. Nuno Espírito Santo, the Portuguese tactician who returned to England last summer, has turned them into a team that doesn’t just defend — they punish. And they do it with discipline.Gibbs-White, now scoring in three straight league games for the first time in his career, isn’t just a goalscorer — he’s a symbol. So is Savona, the 21-year-old midfielder who looks like he’s been playing at Anfield his whole life. And Milenković? He didn’t just stop Salah. He made him look ordinary. That’s not luck. That’s coaching.
What This Means for the League
Arsenal lead with 26 points. Chelsea sit second, 23. But the gap between the top and the rest? It’s widening. And now, Liverpool — once the standard-bearer — are struggling to stay in the top six. Their next five fixtures include Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. This isn’t a blip. It’s a crisis.Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have momentum. They’re playing with freedom. They’re winning games they shouldn’t. And they’re doing it against the giants. If they can hold this form through December, they could sneak into the top eight — a remarkable turnaround for a club that was in the Championship two years ago.
What’s Next?
Liverpool’s board will meet this week. Questions about Slot’s future will be unavoidable. Will they bring in a new assistant? A defensive coach? A psychological consultant? The answers matter. Because right now, they’re not just losing games — they’re losing identity.For Nottingham Forest, the challenge is different. Can they keep this up? Can they avoid the trap of thinking they’ve "arrived"? They still have six losses. Their goal difference is still negative. But now, they’ve beaten the champions. That changes everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Nottingham Forest manage to beat Liverpool so convincingly?
Nottingham Forest won through disciplined counterattacks, superior defensive organization, and clinical finishing. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo set up a compact 4-2-3-1, denying Liverpool space in midfield and forcing them into long shots. Goals from Murillo, Savona, and Gibbs-White came from transitions, not sustained pressure — a tactic that exploited Liverpool’s slow defensive recovery and lack of midfield control.
What does this result mean for Liverpool’s title defense?
It’s effectively over. After winning the Premier League in 2024-2025, Liverpool now sit seventh with only 18 points from 12 games — their worst start since 2015. With six losses and zero draws, they’ve lost all momentum. Beating Manchester City and Arsenal in the coming weeks is now a near-impossible task. The club’s hierarchy faces mounting pressure to reassess the squad and coaching structure.
Is Nuno Espírito Santo the reason for Forest’s turnaround?
Absolutely. Since returning to England in summer 2024, Espírito Santo has instilled structure and belief. He’s transformed Forest from a reactive team into a counterattacking unit with clear roles. His use of Savona as a deep-lying playmaker and Milenković as a ball-winning center-back has been masterful. This win at Anfield is his most significant achievement since taking charge.
Why did Liverpool’s defense collapse so badly?
Liverpool’s backline lacked coordination. Van Dijk and Konaté were repeatedly caught out of position, and full-backs Williams and Gravenberch were too high, leaving massive gaps. Alisson’s distribution was off, and the midfield offered no protection. The team’s pressing system, once lethal, had become predictable. Forest exploited every lapse — and Liverpool didn’t have the pace or composure to recover.
What’s the significance of Morgan Gibbs-White scoring in three straight games?
It’s the first time in his professional career that Gibbs-White has scored in three consecutive Premier League matches. That’s not just personal form — it’s a sign of growing confidence and tactical integration. He’s no longer just a winger. He’s become Forest’s most reliable attacking outlet, and his goals have directly contributed to three of their four points from their last three matches.
Could Nottingham Forest challenge for Europe this season?
It’s unlikely they’ll reach the top four, but a top-eight finish is now realistic. With 12 points and momentum, they’re just four points behind sixth-place Aston Villa. If they can hold their form in December — especially against mid-table sides like Wolves and Brentford — they could secure a Europa Conference League spot. This win over Liverpool has given them belief they’ve never had before.