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Preview: Liverpool gearing up for Forest clash

Preview: Liverpool gearing up for Forest clash

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Nottingham Forest, under former Everton boss Sean Dyche, travel to Anfield on Saturday afternoon looking to extend Liverpool’s run of poor form.

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

Liverpool’s start to the season was perfect. Granted, performances weren’t great, Arne Slot’s side kept finding ways to win and it felt like a matter of when and not if the new-look side would finally click. 

However, this wasn’t the case. Performances didn’t improve and the reigning champions just stopped winning. They lost four on the bounce in the Premier League, were defeated by Galatasaray in the Champions League and were ruthlessly knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace. 

The Reds looked a little more themselves against Aston Villa but were brought back down to earth with a bump at the Etihad in a 3-0 loss before the international break. Slot’s side find themselves eighth in the English top flight. Over the last five matches, only Wolves (one) have picked up fewer points. 

They really have been in freefall and they’re up against a team in Nottingham Forest who Slot is yet to defeat.

Forest, meanwhile, are onto their third manager of the season following the sackings of Nuno Espírito Santo and Ange Postecoglou.

Their form has improved following the hiring of Dyche too, with Forest drawing with Manchester United and beating Leeds United. They head into this game at Anfield having lost just one of their previous five outings across all competitions and they’re actually above Liverpool in the form table, despite still finding themselves in the relegation zone.

Recent form 

It is feast or famine for Liverpool. They either win or they lose. The Reds are yet to be involved in a draw this season. The 2024/25 champions are also finding clean sheets hard to come by, keeping just one in the league since their 1-0 win over Burnley in September. 

Forest, despite their horrendous start to the season, have conceded just three more goals than their hosts. Their problem, however, is in attack. Wolves (seven) are the only team to have scored fewer goals (10), but things have looked brighter under Dyche with Forest scoring five in their last two Premier League outings.

Key Players

For Liverpool, it has to be Mohamed Salah. There’s been a lot of talk over the international break whether the Reds should drop the legendary left-winger with him failing to really impact things this term. The four-time Golden Boot winner is away for the AFCON from the end of December so his window to really put a stamp on things this season is shortening. Sooner or later, the champions are going to figure out a way to get their No. 11 involved again. This could be the game. 

For Forest, it could well be Igor Jesus. He started the last three in the Premier League and was a real threat against Leeds United. The 24-year-old didn’t find the back of the net but did manage five shots in 59 minutes, racking up an xG total of 0.61, showing he’s a genuine goal threat. 

Team News

The Reds should be able to recall Alisson Becker this weekend but Florian Wirtz, Conor Bradley, Stefan Bajčetić, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni and all out injured. Alexander Isak was on the bench against Manchester City and went away with Sweden during the international break so should be back fit for this clash. 

Forest are without a host of names, including Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Ola Aina for the trip to Anfield. 

Prediction 

Dyche’s side can, and likely will, cause problems on Saturday but we’re still going with a Liverpool win. It won’t be comfortable though, so we’re saying 2-1 to the hosts. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: Liverpool gearing up for Forest clash

Nottingham Forest, under former Everton boss Sean Dyche, travel to Anfield on Saturday afternoon looking to extend Liverpool’s run of poor form.

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

Liverpool’s start to the season was perfect. Granted, performances weren’t great, Arne Slot’s side kept finding ways to win and it felt like a matter of when and not if the new-look side would finally click. 

However, this wasn’t the case. Performances didn’t improve and the reigning champions just stopped winning. They lost four on the bounce in the Premier League, were defeated by Galatasaray in the Champions League and were ruthlessly knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace. 

The Reds looked a little more themselves against Aston Villa but were brought back down to earth with a bump at the Etihad in a 3-0 loss before the international break. Slot’s side find themselves eighth in the English top flight. Over the last five matches, only Wolves (one) have picked up fewer points. 

They really have been in freefall and they’re up against a team in Nottingham Forest who Slot is yet to defeat.

Forest, meanwhile, are onto their third manager of the season following the sackings of Nuno Espírito Santo and Ange Postecoglou.

Their form has improved following the hiring of Dyche too, with Forest drawing with Manchester United and beating Leeds United. They head into this game at Anfield having lost just one of their previous five outings across all competitions and they’re actually above Liverpool in the form table, despite still finding themselves in the relegation zone.

Recent form 

It is feast or famine for Liverpool. They either win or they lose. The Reds are yet to be involved in a draw this season. The 2024/25 champions are also finding clean sheets hard to come by, keeping just one in the league since their 1-0 win over Burnley in September. 

Forest, despite their horrendous start to the season, have conceded just three more goals than their hosts. Their problem, however, is in attack. Wolves (seven) are the only team to have scored fewer goals (10), but things have looked brighter under Dyche with Forest scoring five in their last two Premier League outings.

Key Players

For Liverpool, it has to be Mohamed Salah. There’s been a lot of talk over the international break whether the Reds should drop the legendary left-winger with him failing to really impact things this term. The four-time Golden Boot winner is away for the AFCON from the end of December so his window to really put a stamp on things this season is shortening. Sooner or later, the champions are going to figure out a way to get their No. 11 involved again. This could be the game. 

For Forest, it could well be Igor Jesus. He started the last three in the Premier League and was a real threat against Leeds United. The 24-year-old didn’t find the back of the net but did manage five shots in 59 minutes, racking up an xG total of 0.61, showing he’s a genuine goal threat. 

Team News

The Reds should be able to recall Alisson Becker this weekend but Florian Wirtz, Conor Bradley, Stefan Bajčetić, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni and all out injured. Alexander Isak was on the bench against Manchester City and went away with Sweden during the international break so should be back fit for this clash. 

Forest are without a host of names, including Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Ola Aina for the trip to Anfield. 

Prediction 

Dyche’s side can, and likely will, cause problems on Saturday but we’re still going with a Liverpool win. It won’t be comfortable though, so we’re saying 2-1 to the hosts. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.