Match Preview for Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Liverpool come again from the ultimate worldwide break of the yr nonetheless wrestling with inconsistency, and Anfield hosts a Nottingham Forest aspect steadily discovering their toes underneath Sean Dyche on Saturday afternoon.
Arne Slot’s workforce signed off with a bruising defeat at Manchester Metropolis, ending a brief run of improved shows and additional weakening any lingering title speak round Merseyside.
The three-0 loss included two deflected objectives, however Liverpool have been second-best all through, undone repeatedly by Jeremy Doku and unable to create sustained strain of their very own.
That setback leaves the champions sitting uncomfortably between the title race and mid-table actuality, their hole to leaders Arsenal sitting at eight factors.
Even so, their kind at Anfield stays a brighter reference level: 4 wins from 5 residence league matches this season, and greater than a yr since they final drew a clean at residence within the high flight.
Forest arrive believing they will disrupt that rhythm once more. They shut Liverpool out at Anfield in September 2024 and are actually chasing consecutive away league wins over the Reds for the primary time because the early Nineteen Sixties.
Dyche’s imprint is changing into clearer too – Forest have misplaced solely one in every of their final 5 in all competitions and took an important 3-1 win towards Leeds earlier than the break, a consequence that dragged them to inside a single level of security.
Staff information for Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Liverpool lastly have encouraging information on the damage entrance. Alisson Becker is predicted to return after recovering from a hamstring concern, leaving Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) as the one confirmed absentees.
Alexander Isak, rested on the Etihad, ought to be obtainable to steer the road once more, whereas Mohamed Salah is about for his three hundredth Premier League look.
Forest, in the meantime, are ready on a number of gamers. Chris Wooden (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (hip), Dilane Bakwa and Callum Hudson-Odoi (thigh) are being monitored forward of kickoff. #Ola Aina, Douglas Luiz and Angus Gunn are sidelined.
If Wooden doesn’t make it, Dyche can flip to Igor Jesus, Arnaud Kalimuendo or former Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi as his point of interest. Morgan Gibbs-White, now on a two-game scoring streak within the league, will function simply behind the striker as soon as extra.
Anticipated line-ups for Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Liverpool: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Isak
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Savona, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Awoniyi
watch Liverpool v Nottingham Forest: TV channel, on-line stream
The match is not going to be broadcast within the UK because of the Saturday blackout rule at 3pm.
The stats for Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
- Liverpool have gained 4 of their 5 residence league matches this season
- Forest have misplaced solely one in every of their final 5 in all competitions
- Liverpool’s 44-game Premier League scoring run ended towards Man Metropolis earlier than the break
- Forest averaged extra photographs and xG underneath Dyche than underneath their two earlier managers this season
- Forest took 4 factors from Liverpool final season
Prediction
Liverpool
2
–
1
Nottingham Forest
Forest’s construction, direct strategy and improved attacking output give them a sensible probability of irritating Liverpool once more, particularly with Dyche’s aspect rising in confidence. Liverpool might profit from the worldwide reset, however current performances make it laborious to again them strongly, and Forest look able to taking one thing residence from Anfield.
