Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Preview – Team News, Form Guide & Key Stats

Liverpool return from the international break seeking to steady themselves after a bruising period that culminated in a 3–0 defeat to Manchester City.

The result was deserved on the balance of play, although the Reds left the Etihad with a sense of injustice after Virgil van Dijk’s first-half header was controversially ruled out. The loss extended a difficult domestic run and leaves Arne Slot’s side eighth in the Premier League table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal before this weekend’s fixtures.

Anfield, however, has been a far safer haven. Slot has guided Liverpool to four wins from five home league matches this season, and it is now over a year since the Reds last failed to score on their own turf in the top flight. They will need every bit of that resilience as Nottingham Forest arrive looking to repeat last season’s shock success. Forest claimed a 1-0 win at Anfield early in the previous campaign and took four points from Liverpool across their two meetings. Another triumph on Saturday would give Forest back-to-back league victories at Anfield for the first time since 1963.

Team News

Liverpool’s preparations have been shaped by a long list of fitness updates. Alisson has recovered from the injury he suffered in September’s Champions League tie with Galatasaray and is expected to start, provided there are no late setbacks. Both Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz picked up muscle problems during the international window. Slot confirmed that Wirtz could return after the Forest match, but Bradley faces several weeks out. With Jeremie Frimpong still sidelined following the issue he sustained at Eintracht Frankfurt last month, Liverpool’s options at right-back are stretched thin. Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez have all been discussed as potential cover.

Alexander Isak should also be available after featuring briefly for Sweden last week. The striker has not played for Liverpool since being withdrawn at half-time away at Frankfurt with a groin complaint. Slot admitted that he had hoped to see Isak play more minutes for his country, but Sweden opted against using him in their second match due to the threat of suspension.

Forest travel following their 1-0 win over Leeds before the break, a result that ended a run of four defeats in their previous five league games. Even so, Sean Dyche’s side remain 19th in the table and are carrying a sizeable injury list into the trip. Chris Wood, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Dilane Bakwa, Ola Aina, Douglas Luiz and Angus Gunn are all out, while former Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi has also been ruled unavailable with an unspecified issue.

Both teams have endured difficult stretches in recent weeks and both emerge from the international window with something to prove. Liverpool will be desperate to restore momentum and avoid losing further ground on the top four, while Forest will hope last season’s Anfield upset serves as a reminder that they can unsettle Slot’s men once again. Either side could emerge on top.