Nottingham Forest v Liverpool preview: Form guide, TV channels, team news and predictions

Nottingham Forest’s City Ground has become something of a personal haunted house for Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. On Sunday the Dutchman will walk into the same ground where, in November, his Reds were routed 3-0 and serenaded by a chorus of boos that echoed around Anfield at full-time. That defeat remains the nadir of Slot’s first season in charge, and he will arrive in the East Midlands knowing that a fourth straight failure to subdue the Garibaldi would stall the cautious optimism generated by back-to-back victories over Sunderland and Brighton.

The hosts, meanwhile, are living proof that form tables do not always dictate managerial fate. Despite losing only once in the league since the opening week of January, Forest are already onto their fourth coach of the campaign as Vitor Pereira prepares for his Premier League baptism. Three consecutive home draws—ranging from a creditable stalemate with Arsenal to the 35-shot impotence against Wolves that cost Sean Dyche his job—underline both the squad’s resilience and its ongoing fragility in front of goal.

Liverpool’s recent record is equally hard to decode. Over the last half-dozen league fixtures the champions have mixed statement results—wins over Newcastle and Sunderland and a point at Arsenal—with damaging lapses: late losses to Bournemouth and Manchester City and a wasteful home draw with Burnley. The consequence is that Slot’s side have still not managed back-to-back Premier League wins in 2026, a statistic they are desperate to amend before the season slips away entirely.

Sunday’s contest will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK, with kick-off at 2 pm.

Team-news round-up

Forest are waiting on the fitness of defender Nicolo Savona, though goalkeeper Matz Sels is expected to miss out. Chris Wood, John Victor and Willy Boly remain longer-term absentees.

Liverpool welcomed the return of Joe Gomez to full training on Thursday, but Jeremie Frimpong will not be ready. Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak and Wataru Endo continue their rehabilitation from extended injuries.

Prediction

Head says the Reds have struggled against lower-half opponents and Forest’s recent home record suggests another 1-1 draw. Heart, however, points to the champions’ new-found momentum and a gritty away win in the mould of last weekend’s success at Sunderland.

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