Liverpool will host Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, looking to continue their perfect start to the 2024/25 season.
Liverpool have picked up three consecutive wins in the league, including a memorable one at Old Trafford ahead of the international break, and they will certainly fancy their chances of beating Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The visitors are unbeaten in the Premier League so far, winning one and drawing two matches. They will be desperate to grind something out of this contest, and it remains to be seen whether they can produce a strong performance here.
At Anfield, Liverpool are a formidable side, and beating them will be a herculean challenge for the away side. However, they will certainly look to get something out of this game, and the home team will have to be careful.
The Reds cannot afford to be complacent here even though they are overwhelming favourites to win the game. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Harvey Elliott is the only worry for Liverpool ahead of the visit of Nottingham Forest. The Englishman is sidelined with an ankle injury. The Reds are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at the back as well as in the final third. Ibrahima Konate will start at the heart of the defence alongside club captain Virgil van Dijk.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister will add creativity and control to the side alongside Ryan Gravenberch, who will play the anchor role and help out defensively. The Dutchman will also look to control the tempo of the game.
Dominik Szoboszlai will start in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities and add drive to the side. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add pace and flair from the wide areas, with Darwin Nunez leading the line for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Nottingham Forest
Danilo is ruled out with a long-term ankle injury, while Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare will be assessed closer to kick-off. Nottingham Forest will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Liverpool, with Matz Sels in goal.
Neco Williams and Ola Aina will start as the full-backs. They will look to add defensive cover and help out during transitions. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo will start in the central defensive pairing.
As for the midfield unit, Ibrahim Sangare will look to break down Liverpool attacks and protect the back four if he is passed fit. Elliot Anderson will add creativity and control to the side alongside him.
Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi will start in the wide areas, and they will look to open up the Liverpool defence with their pace and trickery. Morgan Gibbs-White will add creativity in the final third. He will look to link the midfield with the attack. Finally, Chris Wood will lead the line for Nottingham Forest against Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Sangare, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Key Stats
- Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in their last four matches in the Premier League. In addition, the Reds have won their last four matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in their last seven matches in the Premier League.
- 11 goals have been scored in the last five matches between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
- On Saturday, Arne Slot can become the first manager to win his opening four Premier League matches without conceding a single goal.
- Diogo Jota has scored six goals in five career appearances against Nottingham Forest.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian has started the season in fine form, scoring three goals in three games. He will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates in the final third and get on the score sheet himself.
On Sunday, Salah can become the second player to score in each of Liverpool’s opening four fixtures in a Premier League campaign, emulating Daniel Sturridge in 2013. He is our key player to watch out for, and Liverpool will need him to step up and deliver if they want to grind out all three points.
Prediction
Liverpool 3-1 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest have been very difficult to beat in the Premier League this season, and they will look to put up a fight against Liverpool here. Beating Liverpool at Anfield is a very difficult task, and the away side will have to be at their best to get something out of this contest.
This is likely to be a cracking contest between two motivated sides, but Liverpool have enough quality to come out on top here. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 victory for Arne Slot and his charges.