Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest - The Big Match Preview

Two teams in search of their first Premier League victories of the new campaign will square off on Saturday as Liverpool welcome Nottingham Forest to Anfield.

A dramatic late penalty converted on matchday one enabled the Reds to claim a single point, drawing Newcastle 2-2, while Forest lost 1-0 at home to Leeds.

Match Context

It was a less-than-ideal Premier League debut for Andoni Iraola as the Liverpool boss thought his team were fortunate to escape with a point.

They sit 10th in the table heading into matchday two and are seeking to end a five-match winless run in this competition.

Liverpool will be optimistic it will turn around on Saturday, as they have won 12 of their last 13 Premier League home openers, collecting points in each of those instances.

Starting slowly has been a recurring theme for them of late, with this team failing to score a first-half goal in each of their last three top-flight fixtures dating back to last season.

Scoring goals at home, however, has rarely been a problem with the Merseyside club only shut out once at Anfield domestically in 2026, drawing Leeds 0-0 on New Year’s Day.

The Reds have emerged victorious in two of their three Premier League home games against Forest this century, with that last such triumph occurring in October 2023 (3-0).

There was late drama for Nottingham Forest on matchday one as Oliver Glasner’s side were left heartbroken last weekend, conceding two minutes before the 90.

The former Crystal Palace boss will hope to avoid becoming the first manager of this club to lose his first two top-flight matches in charge since they returned to the Premier League in 2022-23.

History, however, is not on his side as Forest have won just one of their last eight opening domestic outings of a new campaign.

On Saturday, Liverpool may have to be extremely potent in front of goal, as Forest have netted in 10 straight Premier League away matches, the longest ongoing run in the division.

Nottingham Forest boast a 100% record in the Premier League this year when netting the opener away from home, doing so on four occasions.

The Garibaldis have won their last two visits to Anfield against the Reds, while beating them three times since returning to the Premier League, more than any side in this competition over that stretch.

Team News

An ACL injury will likely keep Giovanni Leoni on the Liverpool sidelines this weekend; Joe Gomez has a muscular issue, and Conor Bradley is doubtful with a sore knee.

Hugo Ekitiké won’t be available as he recovers from an Achilles injury. Federico Chiesa is questionable due to a knock, while Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic are unlikely to feature because of hamstring strains.

On the Forest side, Ibrahim Sangare is questionable with a sore calf, while Nicolò Sanova is unlikely to be ready either because of a knee injury.

Key Players to Watch

Dominik Szoboszlai has been a shining light in what has been a difficult year for Liverpool, with the Hungarian scoring 11 goals in his last 16 appearances for the Reds in this competition, including the equalising penalty deep into stoppage time last weekend.

Cody Gakpo, who is being heavily linked to Man City, showed he can still be a key contributor to this team, with nine shot involvements against Newcastle, the most of any player in the league on matchday one.

Morgan Gibbs-White is a player to watch out for on the Nottingham Forest side, having scored the most Premier League goals in this calendar year (12), while netting in three of his team’s last six visits to Anfield in this competition.

Predicted XI 

Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak

Nottingham Forest: Sels; Cunha, Murillo, Milenkovic; Aina, Schlager, McAtee, Williams; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Wood