Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Match preview, predicted line-ups, team news, and prediction

Nottingham Forest face Liverpool in the Premier League at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.

Forest were held to a goalless draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers on matchday 26, while Liverpool dug deep to win 1-0 at Sunderland.

Match preview

Manager Vitor Pereira will be aiming to build on the momentum gained in the 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce in the UEFA Europa League knockout play-off on Thursday.

Forest could be level on points with 17th-placed West Ham United ahead of kickoff, making it crucial that they secure a positive result to aid their fight for survival.

Forest have collected nine points from their last six games — one more than Liverpool within that period. However, they are winless in their last five league home games.

Forest are expected to sit deep, hit on the counter, and target the gaps left by Liverpool’s advancing full-backs.

Liverpool lost 3-0 in the reverse fixture and are now winless in their last three Premier League games against Forest.

However, the defending champions have never lost back-to-back matches against the hosts in the competition.

Back-to-back victories over Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion have raised expectations, but that optimism would be dampened without a victory at Forest.

Liverpool would move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United if they win on Sunday.

Team news

Forest remain without goalkeepers John Victor and Matz Sels, as well as Chris Wood, Nicolo Savona, and Willy Boly.

Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are ruled out.

Predicted line-ups

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Angus Gunn, Neco Williams, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare, Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye, Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus, Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson Becker, Dominic Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Milos Kerkez, Alexis McAllister, Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike.