DOMINIC KING: Liverpool fans vote with their feet after confusing afternoon vs Nottingham Forest

Time ticked away as Jurgen Klopp turned to look away from the action, as if his attention had been diverted.

Liverpool grimly held on for three points against Nottingham Forest, but it had been another confusing afternoon, with the good moments offset by indecision, and many of those in the main stand had begun to leave.

This wasn’t the kind of wide spread that had been apparent last autumn when Leeds beat Klopp’s side or when they happened to draw against Brighton, but it was noticeable enough and the manager seemed surprised.

When asked for clarification, Klopp insisted that he was paying no attention to those who got up and left, but that he was in discussion with the fourth official about the amount of stoppage time (five minutes) being played.

Still, you couldn’t help but think. The Anfield crowd has been spoiled by the football Klopp has conjured up from his team over the past five years and it was shocking for them to accept a reality check this campaign.

Diogo Jota continued his fine scoring form for the Reds, scoring a string of goals in the match

Mohamed Salah got the winner to help Jurgen Klopp’s side keep their late top-four attack alive

Klopp will not be throwing punches for the Kop after victories, as had become customary, as he sees little to celebrate in what he called an ‘average season’ and the crowd has lost its zest on days like this. The opportunity to reset will then be seized.

“In the season we have, it’s just important to have the three points and now we move on,” said Virgil van Dijk. ‘It is large. Now we are going to prepare for the confrontation with West Ham.

“I’m definitely happy and buzzed to be there and get some good results to put in a run together. It’s just about playing one game at a time and finding consistency. Stay positive and try to enjoy the rest of the matches.’

There were a number of things for the home crowd to enjoy, not the least of which was Diogo Jota’s resurgence and Mohamed Salah’s game-winning goal that put him tied on the all-time scoring list with Robbie Fowler on 183.

It was a beautiful finish befitting a bigger occasion and the fact that Salah has been there in 71 fewer games is astonishing. Forest had to defend well to get something out of this encounter, but much to Steve Cooper’s dismay, they didn’t.

Neco Williams (right) scored the first for Nottingham Forest to put Liverpool behind

Morgan Gibbs-White (left) followed soon after to level the scores at 2-2

The same was true for Liverpool too and that may have explained why it all felt a bit flat towards the end. Forest, with a little more composure and devilishness, should have taken advantage of the uncertainty.

“This was always going to be an incredibly tough game,” said Cooper, for whom Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White scored fine goals. “To think we’ve pared Liverpool down to very few open-play opportunities tells me we’ve done decent things.

“But you can’t escape the fact that we lost. We have to use the frustration and disappointment of continuing to allow set pieces to motivate. We try to stick together; you really saw a connection with the supporters.’

A connection for Liverpool, on the other hand, that needs to be restored.