Match Preview for Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Liverpool come back from the final international break of the year still wrestling with inconsistency, and Anfield hosts a Nottingham Forest side gradually finding their feet under Sean Dyche on Saturday afternoon.
Arne Slot’s team signed off with a bruising defeat at Manchester City, ending a short run of improved displays and further weakening any lingering title talk around Merseyside.
The 3-0 loss included two deflected goals, but Liverpool were second-best throughout, undone repeatedly by Jeremy Doku and unable to create sustained pressure of their own.
That setback leaves the champions sitting uncomfortably between the title race and mid-table reality, their gap to leaders Arsenal sitting at eight points.
Even so, their form at Anfield remains a brighter reference point: four wins from five home league matches this season, and more than a year since they last drew a blank at home in the top flight.
Forest arrive believing they can disrupt that rhythm again. They shut Liverpool out at Anfield in September 2024 and are now chasing consecutive away league wins over the Reds for the first time since the early 1960s.
Dyche’s imprint is becoming clearer too – Forest have lost only one of their last five in all competitions and took a vital 3-1 win against Leeds before the break, a result that dragged them to within a single point of safety.
Team news for Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Liverpool finally have encouraging news on the injury front. Alisson Becker is expected to return after recovering from a hamstring issue, leaving Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) as the only confirmed absentees.
Alexander Isak, rested at the Etihad, should be available to lead the line again, while Mohamed Salah is set for his 300th Premier League appearance.
Forest, meanwhile, are waiting on several players. Chris Wood (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (hip), Dilane Bakwa and Callum Hudson-Odoi (thigh) are being monitored ahead of kickoff. #Ola Aina, Douglas Luiz and Angus Gunn are sidelined.
If Wood does not make it, Dyche can turn to Igor Jesus, Arnaud Kalimuendo or former Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi as his focal point. Morgan Gibbs-White, now on a two-game scoring streak in the league, will operate just behind the striker once more.
Expected 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
How to watch Liverpool v Nottingham Forest: TV channel, online stream
The match will not be broadcast in the UK due to the Saturday blackout rule at 3pm.
The stats for Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
- Liverpool have won four of their five home league matches this season
- Forest have lost only one of their last five in all competitions
- Liverpool’s 44-game Premier League scoring run ended against Man City before the break
- Forest averaged more shots and xG under Dyche than under their two previous managers this season
- Forest took four points from Liverpool last season
Prediction
Liverpool
2
–
1
Nottingham Forest
Forest’s structure, direct approach and improved attacking output give them a realistic chance of frustrating Liverpool again, especially with Dyche’s side growing in confidence. Liverpool may benefit from the international reset, but recent performances make it hard to back them strongly, and Forest look capable of taking something home from Anfield.
