Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

Liverpool’s pursuit of European placings continues at Anfield as they welcome relegation-fighting Nottingham Forest in a must-win game.

Following a dismal four-match winless run in the Premier League (D2, L2), Liverpool returned to winning ways in thumping fashion, dismantling relegation-threatened Leeds United 6-1 earlier this week to reignite their faltering European pursuit. With fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur six points away at the start of this round, the ‘Reds’ are looking to build on their outrageous run of one defeat in their last 37 Premier League home fixtures (W27, D9) as there’s no room for error anymore. Speaking of Liverpool’s home fortress, they’ve not lost any of their last 23 league meetings with Forest at Anfield (W18, D5) since going down in 1969. Jurgen Klopp’s side cannot take anything for granted, though, after succumbing to a shock 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at the City Ground.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest rolled over last weekend as Manchester United’s 2-0 win at the City Ground condemned the ‘Tricky Trees’ to a tenth consecutive winless match in the Premier League (D3, L7). The only way for Forest to pull off a historic feat and register their first league double over Liverpool since 1962/63 is to keep a clean sheet. That’s been a proven recipe for Steve Cooper’s side this term, as all of their six top-flight triumphs in 2022/23 have come ‘to nil.’ However, the visitors’ travel sickness remains a massive issue, with Cooper’s team picking up fewer points (6) and scoring fewer goals (5) than any other Premier League club on the road this season. Indeed, they’ve averaged a humiliating 0.33 goals per league travel this term.