Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest: Preview, predictions and lineups

Liverpool are aiming to maintain their perfect start to the 2024/25 Premier League season this Saturday when they host Nottingham Forest.

The Reds put in their most impressive performance of the Slot era to date prior to the international break, travelling to Old Trafford and putting rivals Manchester United to the sword in a handsome 3-0 victory. It was an encouraging display, building on 2-0 victories over Ipswich Town and Brentford, and the Merseyside club are the only side yet to concede in the English top flight.

Nottingham Forest have enjoyed an impressive start to 2024/25 themselves, picking up five points from a possible nine under Nuno Espirito Santo. A 1-0 victory over Southampton was sandwiched in between 1-1 draws with Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Liverpool haven’t found life straightforward against Forest since the East Midlands club returned to the Premier League. Their two trips to the City Ground have been hard-fought, although they did convince in a 3-0 Anfield victory in this fixture last term.

Here is 90min’s guide to Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Harvey Elliott suffered a devastating injury over the international period. The youngster, who excelled in pre-season, has fractured his foot while playing for England’s Under-21s and isn’t expected to return until the end of October.

Alexis Mac Allister also suffered a knock on international duty and was forced off in Argentina’s clash with Chile after scoring, but he featured in their most recent outing against Luis Diaz’s Colombia.

Curtis Jones has missed the opening weeks of the season with a minor fitness issue but could also feature this weekend, while Federico Chiesa could be named on the bench for the first time after signing late in the window. However, Liverpool don’t want to rush the Italian winger.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota.

Nottingham Forest’s only significant injury problem is midfielder Danilo, who broke his ankle on the opening day of the season. He will be sidelined until 2025 and has been replaced by £35m summer signing Elliot Anderson in recent matches.

Neco Williams is in line to start at Anfield against his former side, scoring there for Forest in a 3-2 defeat in April 2023. Taiwo Awoniyi was on Liverpool’s books for many years without playing for the club and he could be used from the bench. He scored the winner against the Reds in a 1-0 triumph in October 2022.

Nottingham Forest predicted lineup vs Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Sangare, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

Any teething issues at the beginning of Slot’s reign have been non-existent so far and three encouraging displays point to another routine Liverpool victory at the weekend. The Reds haven’t been quite as chaotic as they were under Jurgen Klopp, but a more measured approach has served them well.

Forest have been in impressive form themselves and have made life difficult for their opponents this season, proving tough to break down and tricky in the final third. However, Espirito Santo’s side haven’t faced a team of Liverpool’s calibre to date and it may prove a challenge too great for the Midlands outfit.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Nottingham Forest

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP