Already written off by many as title outsiders, Liverpool host a steadily improving Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday afternoon. Arne Slot’s side returned from the international break after a loss, while Sean Dyche’s team are looking to extend their unbeaten streak to four matches in all competitions on Merseyside.
Liverpool fans could argue over the controversial disallowed goal for Virgil van Dijk at the Etihad, but there is little doubt that their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City was deserved. Despite strong performances against Aston Villa and Real Madrid in the days before, Jeremy Doku tore through Liverpool’s defence, capping off City’s scoring after strikes from Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez.
While the first two goals involved deflections, City’s dominant display was no fluke, ending Liverpool’s remarkable 44-game scoring streak in the Premier League.
The defeat has left Liverpool eight points behind leaders Arsenal, and the gap to the relegation zone is now almost identical, prompting fans and pundits alike to accept that the title is unlikely to stay on Merseyside this season. Anfield, however, tells a slightly more encouraging story. Slot’s side have won four of their five home league matches this season and have not gone goalless at Anfield in over a year.
Reds supporters will recall, though, that Forest were the last team to stop them scoring on their own turf back in September 2024. Dyche’s side arrive aiming for back-to-back league wins at Anfield for the first time since 1963. Though Forest sit nine points and 11 places below Liverpool, signs of progress are clear. The team has gone unbeaten in three games and lost only once in their last five matches across all competitions.
Forest secured just their second Premier League victory of the season in gameweek 11, beating Leeds United 3-1 at the City Ground with goals from Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Elliot Anderson, moving within one point of safety. Under Dyche, Forest are taking more shots and generating more expected goals per match than they did under Ange Postecoglou or Nuno Espirito Santo, though it remains to be seen whether this improvement is sustainable beyond the new manager boost.
Notably, Forest claimed four points from their two fixtures against Liverpool last season. If they can maintain that form, they could remain unbeaten in three league encounters with the Reds for the first time since 1993, when only three players in their current squad had been born.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Liverpool supporters have reason to celebrate as first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker is expected to return on Saturday following a hamstring injury. His likely comeback would leave only Jeremie Frimpong, sidelined with a hamstring issue, and Giovanni Leoni, out with an ACL injury, unavailable for the Reds. Frimpong is anticipated to return in early December, and Alexander Isak is fit despite earlier fitness concerns.
Alisson, who remained on the bench at the Etihad, could now be in contention to replace Hugo Ekitike up front, while Mohamed Salah will mark his 300th Premier League appearance for the reigning champions.
Nottingham Forest face their own injury concerns, with Chris Wood, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Dilane Bakwa, and Callum Hudson-Odoi all touch-and-go, while Ola Aina, Douglas Luiz, and Angus Gunn are confirmed absentees. Wood’s potential absence could be a major blow for Forest, who may have relied on his presence to exploit Liverpool’s vulnerability to long balls. However, Igor Jesus, Arnaud Kalimuendo, and former Reds striker Taiwo Awoniyi are available to step in up front.
Whichever player leads the line will be supported by captain Morgan Gibbs-White, who is looking to score in a third consecutive Premier League match—a milestone he has yet to reach in his career.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Isak
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Sels; Savona, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Awoniyi
EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 2-1 Nottingham Forrest
