Liverpool will take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday night, looking to continue the title charge.
Liverpool have not been at their best in recent outings, and they have failed to win three of their last six Premier League games ahead of the trip to City Ground to lock horns with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. The Reds cannot afford to continue to falter if they want to go all the way in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool were beaten by Tottenham in the EFL Cup last week. So, this is a golden opportunity for them to make a statement by beating the high-flying Nottingham Forest, even though they bounced back with a commanding display against Accrington Stanley this past weekend.
Meanwhile, the visitors are third in the table, and they are on a six-match winning run in the Premier League. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men will certainly fancy their chances of getting all three points against Liverpool here.
Liverpool have looked vulnerable in their recent outing, and Nottingham Forest are full of confidence and momentum. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Nottingham Forest
Ibrahim Sangare is the only injury absentee for the home team due to a thigh injury. 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, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Nikola Milenkovic will form the central defensive partnership alongside Murillo.
As for the midfield unit, Ryan Yates will start alongside Elliot Anderson in the double pivot, and they will look to add defensive cover and control to the side from the deep. Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi will start in the wide areas. They will look to add pace, flair and goals to the side.
Morgan Gibbs-White will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates and get on the scoresheet himself as well. Finally, Chris Wood will lead the line for Nottingham Forest against Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Liverpool
Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez due to a thigh 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, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will start at the base of the midfield, and they will add defensive cover and control to the side from the deep. Dominik Szoboszlai will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.
Finally, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add creativity and goals from the wide areas, with Diogo Jota leading the line for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest at City Ground on Tuesday night.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota
Key Stats
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in their last 12 matches in the Premier League.
- Nottingham Forest have won their last six matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 15 matches Premier League.
- Liverpool have won four of the last six matches against Nottingham Forest.
- 12 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian international has been in phenomenal form this season, and Liverpool need him to step up and deliver once again. He is our key play to watch out for. Salah has 38 goal contributions in all competitions, and he will look to make a defining impact in the final third here.
The Liverpool talisman drew a blank against Tottenham, and he will be eager to bounce back. Salah will help create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates, and he will look to add to his goal-scoring tally for the season as well. The player was rested against Accrington Stanley at the weekend, and he will be well-rested for this game.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Liverpool
This is likely to be a difficult contest for Liverpool, and they could struggle away from home. The Reds have not been very convincing in the last few matches, and Nottingham Forest certainly have the quality to exploit their frailties.
The home side are full of confidence right now, and they have the momentum with them as well. The Tricky Trees will be a formidable opposition during the midweek, and Liverpool could come up short. This is likely to be a close contest, and the home side has the quality to edge out a narrow victory in front of their fans.
