Nottingham Forest vs. Liverpool: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Liverpool resume their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a short trip to the City Ground, where a Nottingham Forest side buoyed by mid-week European success will attempt to derail the Reds’ push for a top-five finish that would secure Champions League football next season.

Jürgen Slot’s men have collected four victories from their last five fixtures in all competitions, the most recent of which saw them sweep Brighton & Hove Albion aside 3-0 in the FA Cup. Their only league success in that sequence came on Wearside, where a hard-fought 1-0 win at Sunderland trimmed the gap on Chelsea and Manchester United above them. With a kinder run of domestic fixtures on the horizon, Liverpool see the meeting with struggling Forest as the launchpad for a decisive climb up the table.

The hosts, however, will arrive at the match with renewed belief. Vítor Pereira took caretaker charge for Thursday’s Europa League trip to Fenerbahçe and watched his players respond with a statement 3-0 triumph. That result ended a sequence of poor form that had left Forest mired in relegation danger, averaging barely a point per match and still haunted by memories of a 3-0 defeat of Liverpool at Anfield under previous manager Sean Dyche.

Selection headaches persist for the Reds. Long-term casualties Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak remain unavailable, while Jeremie Frimpong’s groin issue keeps him out until after this weekend. Wataru Endo is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after being stretchered off against Sunderland. Joe Gomez is expected to slot in at right-back after two encouraging cameos, and Dominik Szoboszlai returns from suspension to bolster midfield creativity.

Forest’s injury list is no less troublesome. Winter signing Stefan Ortega will continue in goal with both Matz Sels and John Victor ruled out. Defenders Nicolò Savona and Willy Boly are sidelined, while leading scorer Chris Wood is still nursing an injury. Igor Jesus is tipped to lead the line ahead of Lorenzo Lucca and former Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

Predicted lineups

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangaré; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitiké.

Verdict

The quick turnaround from Istanbul to the East Midlands, coupled with Forest’s lengthy injury list, tilts the balance toward a fresher, more clinical Liverpool. If Slot’s forwards translate recent cup sharpness into league form, the visitors should extend their winning streak and intensify the heat on their top-four rivals.

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