Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool – Match preview and team news

Nottingham Forest will welcome reigning Premier League champions Liverpool to the City Ground on Sunday, with Vítor Pereira taking charge of his first home match since assuming managerial duties. The fixture carries added spice after Forest’s stunning 3-0 victory at Anfield in November, a result that fuels hopes of a first league double over Liverpool in the club’s history.

Pereira’s reign began in emphatic fashion on Thursday night, as Forest swept past Turkish giants Fenerbahçe 3-0 in the Europa League, injecting fresh belief into a squad hovering just above the relegation places. Domestically, the Tricky Trees occupy 17th position, three points clear of the drop zone, and know that another positive result against high-profile opposition would provide precious momentum in the survival fight.

Liverpool, meanwhile, arrive in the East Midlands seeking to strengthen their push for a top-four finish. Arne Slot’s side sit sixth, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, and have lost only twice in their last 19 competitive outings. A gritty 1-0 win at Sunderland last time out on the road ended the Black Cats’ long unbeaten home record and offered encouragement that the Reds can cure their travel sickness.

Team-news wise, Forest remain without defensive trio Willy Boly, Nicolò Savona and John Victor, all of whom are nursing knee problems. Leading scorer Chris Wood is still unavailable, and first-choice goalkeeper Matz Sels continues to be troubled by a groin complaint, meaning on-loan Stefan Ortega will retain his starting berth. Fortunately, no fresh injuries were picked up during the European excursion.

Liverpool’s casualty list includes Jeremie Frimpong, who remains sidelined with a muscle injury, while midfielder Wataru Endo is set for an extended absence after being stretchered off at the Stadium of Light. Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni remain long-term absentees, but Joe Gomez has recovered sufficiently to start if called upon.

Nottingham Forest have proved stubborn opponents of late, losing only one of their last six Premier League encounters despite remaining winless in that sequence. They have, however, drawn three successive home league fixtures and have failed to score in 12 top-flight matches this term—only rock-bottom Wolves have been shut out more often. Encouragingly, they are unbeaten in their last three meetings with Liverpool and have lost just once at the City Ground since September.

Liverpool’s recent form is trending upward: four wins from their last five in all competitions, including a 3-0 FA Cup dismissal of Brighton. Yet their away league form has underwhelmed, and historically they have found the City Ground a graveyard, prevailing on only one of their previous 15 league visits.

Predicted line-ups suggest both managers will field attacking XIs. Forest are expected to line up: Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus. Liverpool could start: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Sky Sports Main Event will broadcast the match live in the UK, with coverage beginning at 13:00 GMT.