Prediction: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 9/20

Bookmaker: Luckster

Liverpool, widely considered out of the Premier League title race, welcome a resurgent Nottingham Forest side to Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

Arne Slot’s men slipped back to losing ways before the international break, while Sean Dyche’s Forest aim to extend their unbeaten run to four matches in all competitions.

Liverpool

Liverpool fans may lament the controversial decision to rule out Virgil van Dijk’s goal at the Etihad, but few could argue that their side deserved anything from a 3-0 defeat to a dominant Manchester City.

Dogged performances against Aston Villa and Real Madrid earlier in the week counted for little in Manchester, where Jeremy Doku tore through the Reds’ defense and capped the scoring with a stunning curler after Erling Haaland and Nico González had struck.

City’s first two goals benefited from deflections, but their overall display was emphatic, ending Liverpool’s 44-game scoring streak in the Premier League.

The gap to leaders Arsenal now stands at eight points, and Slot’s side are mathematically as close to the relegation zone as they are to the Gunners—a reality that has fueled talk of surrendering the title.

However, Anfield remains a fortress: Liverpool have won four of five home league games this season, and they have not failed to score at home in the top flight for over a year.

Team News

There is finally some positive news for the Reds, as first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker is expected to return from a hamstring injury.

However, Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley are now sidelined with muscular problems, joining Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) on the injury list.

Slot faces a dilemma at right-back, but Cody Gakpo should replace Wirtz in attack, while Alexander Isak could start after being benched at the Etihad, potentially displacing Hugo Ekitike.

Mohamed Salah is set to make his 300th Premier League appearance for the reigning champions.

Nottingham Forest

Liverpool fans will remember all too well who denied them a goal at Anfield in September 2024, and Forest now seek back-to-back league wins on Merseyside for the first time since 1963.

Despite sitting 11 places and nine points behind Liverpool, Dyche’s side have shown signs of revival, going unbeaten in three and losing only once in their last five matches across all competitions.

Gameweek 11 brought just their second league win of the season—a 3-1 triumph over Leeds United at the City Ground, courtesy of Ibrahim Sangaré, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Elliot Anderson.

Under Dyche, Forest are averaging more shots (13) and Expected Goals (1.6) per game than under previous managers Ange Postecoglou or Nuno Espírito Santo, though it remains to be seen if this is more than a temporary bounce.

Forest claimed four points against Liverpool last season and could now go three league games unbeaten against the Reds for the first time since 1993.

Team News

Chris Wood (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (hip), Dilane Bakwa (unspecified), Ola Aina (thigh), Douglas Luiz (thigh), and Angus Gunn (knee) are all unavailable, along with former Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who is nursing an unspecified issue.

Igor Jesus and Arnaud Kalimuendo will compete to lead the line, while Callum Hudson-Odoi could return to the squad.

Captain Morgan Gibbs-White will provide support in attack as he aims to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in his career.

Conclusion

Liverpool haven’t been at their best for a while now, and Forest’s low-block approach combined with long-ball tactics certainly can cause problems for the reigning champions. However, the fact that Slot’s squad hasn’t been performing very well shouldn’t obscure the fact that there is much top-level quality in their ranks, and things are bound to get into their rightful place at some point.

A hard game is expected for both sides, but the hosts should be able to break the visitors’ resistance and make sure the points don’t drift away this time.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 9/20

Bookmaker: Luckster