The Anfield horror show at the hands of Nottingham Forest was a headlong fall into the abyss for Liverpool, says chief football writer Phil McNulty.

The Swede was largely anonymous in a 3–0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday at Anfield. He logged just 14 touches of the ball, was dispossessed twice and failed to register a shot on target. Isak came off in the 68th minute as the lowest rated player (5.5), per FotMob. Less than ideal for the most expensive player in Premier League history.

Nottingham Forest executed the Dycheball game plan with pinpoint precision on Saturday as they handed Liverpool their sixth defeat in seven Premier League games, 3-0 at Anfield.

Liverpool’s Premier League title defense has lurched deeper into crisis with a 3-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner didn’t quite make it to 300 appearances in his first, legendary, spell there. He made his 292nd appearance for the club in the 2009 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, moving to Real Madrid for a world-record fee later that summer.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted responsibility after his side suffered their joint-heaviest ever home Premier League defeat, a 3-0 humiliation by Nottingham Forest, that left the champions in 11th place and their title chase in tatters.