Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Introduction
Anfield prepares for a Saturday clash with massive implications at both ends of the table. Liverpool, currently chasing leaders Manchester City, are desperate to bounce back after a stinging 3-0 defeat to the champions last week. Arne Slot’s side has been imperious at home, but recent away wobbles have halted their momentum.
They face a Nottingham Forest side that has become the Premier League’s “Chaos Merchants” under Nuno Espírito Santo. Fresh off a 3-1 win over Leeds, Forest have climbed away from the danger zone but arrive at Anfield decimated by injuries to key stars like Chris Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Can Liverpool’s high line exploit a weakened Forest attack, or will Nuno’s low block frustrate the Reds again?
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
- Competition: Premier League (Matchweek 12)
- Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
- Date: Saturday, 22 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 15:00 GMT / 16:00 CET / 20:30 IST
- Referee: Andrew Madley
- VAR: David Coote (Expected)
- TV Channel (UK): Not televised live in UK due to 3pm blackout
- TV Channel (USA): Peacock Premium
- TV Channel (India): Star Sports Select 1, Disney+ Hotstar
- Live Stream: Peacock (USA), JioStar (India)
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Liverpool:
- Position: 3rd in the Premier League.
- Form: Inconsistent (L-W-W-L-L). The 3-0 loss to Man City was a reality check, but they beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the UCL just days prior.
- Current Challenge: Breaking down a low block without getting hit on the counter—something that has plagued them in recent weeks against Brentford and Palace.
Nottingham Forest:
- Position: 11th in the Premier League.
- Form: Resilient (W-D-D-L-W). Unbeaten in their last 3 games across all competitions.
- Current Challenge: Surviving an injury crisis. With 6 key starters out, including their top scorer and primary playmaker, this is a test of squad depth.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — What’s at Stake
For Liverpool:
- Title Race Survival: Falling further behind Man City and Arsenal is not an option. 3 points are mandatory to stay in the hunt.
- Anfield Fortress: Restoring fear factor at home after the shock EFL Cup loss to Crystal Palace.
For Nottingham Forest:
- Top Half Ambitions: A result here would cement their status as legitimate top-10 contenders.
- Survival: Every point at a “Big 6” ground is a bonus in the fight to stay well clear of relegation.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Team Form
Liverpool (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Manchester City (0-3)
- W vs Real Madrid (1-0)
- W vs Aston Villa (2-0)
- L vs Crystal Palace (0-3)
- L vs Brentford (2-3)
Nottingham Forest (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Leeds (3-1)
- D vs Sturm Graz (0-0)
- D vs Manchester Utd (2-2)
- L vs Bournemouth (0-2)
- W vs FC Porto (2-0)
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Team News
Liverpool:
- Jeremie Frimpong: Out (Hamstring Injury – Big miss for attacking width)
- Stefan Bajcetic: Out (Hamstring Injury)
- Luke Chambers: Out (Back Injury)
- Giovanni Leoni: Out (Knee Injury)
- Calum Scanlon: Out (Hamstring Injury)
- Alisson Becker: Available (Returned against Man City)
- Diogo Jota: Doubtful (Training knock)
Nottingham Forest:
- Chris Wood: Out (Knee Injury – Massive loss, their target man)
- Callum Hudson-Odoi: Out (Leg Injury – Loss of pace)
- Ola Aina: Out (Hamstring Injury)
- Oleksandr Zinchenko: Out (Groin Injury – Left-back crisis)
- Douglas Luiz: Out (Hamstring Injury – Midfield controller out)
- Angus Gunn: Out (Knee Injury)
- Taiwo Awoniyi: Available (Must start)
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Head to Head
- 15 Jan 2025: Nottingham 1–1 Liverpool
- 14 Sep 2024: Liverpool 0–1 Nottingham (The shock Anfield win)
- 02 Mar 2024: Nottingham 0–1 Liverpool
- 29 Oct 2023: Liverpool 3–0 Nottingham
- 22 Apr 2023: Liverpool 3–2 Nottingham
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Predicted Lineups
Liverpool (4-2-3-1):
With Frimpong out, Conor Bradley steps in. Slot likely returns to his strongest XI after rotation against City.
- GK: Alisson Becker
- RB: Conor Bradley
- CB: Ibrahima Konaté
- CB: Virgil van Dijk
- LB: Andrew Robertson
- CDM: Ryan Gravenberch
- CDM: Alexis Mac Allister
- RW: Mohamed Salah
- CAM: Dominik Szoboszlai
- LW: Luis Díaz
- ST: Darwin Núñez
Nottingham Forest (5-4-1):
Nuno will likely switch to a back 5 to cover for the loss of full-backs Aina and Zinchenko.
- GK: Matz Sels
- RWB: Neco Williams
- CB: Nikola Milenković
- CB: Murillo
- CB: Morato (Added for extra height)
- LWB: Harry Toffolo (Deputizing for Zinchenko)
- RM: Anthony Elanga
- CM: Ibrahim Sangaré
- CM: Elliot Anderson (Replacing Douglas Luiz)
- LM: Nicolás Domínguez (Defensive winger role)
- ST: Taiwo Awoniyi
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Tactical Outlook
Liverpool:
- Playing Style: “Controlled Chaos.” Slot will instruct Bradley and Robertson to overlap constantly to stretch Forest’s back five. Expect Gravenberch to drive through the middle to break lines, as Forest will pack the penalty box.
- Weakness: Rest Defense. With Forest’s speed (Elanga), Liverpool’s high line is vulnerable if the counter-press fails.
Nottingham Forest:
- Playing Style: Low Block & Long Ball. Without Chris Wood to hold the ball up, they will rely on Awoniyi chasing channels and Elanga’s raw speed. Nuno will look to congest the center and force Liverpool to cross, where Milenković and Murillo are strong.
- Strength: Set Pieces. Even without Wood, they are dangerous from corners with their tall center-backs.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Virgil van Dijk vs. Taiwo Awoniyi | Strength vs. Strength: Awoniyi is one of the few strikers who can physically match VVD. If he pins Virgil, Forest can get out. | Liverpool |
| Conor Bradley vs. Anthony Elanga | The Foot Race: With Frimpong out, Bradley must be careful not to get caught upfield. Elanga is faster and will target this space. | Forest |
| Ryan Gravenberch vs. Elliot Anderson | Midfield Control: Anderson has big shoes to fill (Douglas Luiz). If Gravenberch spins him, Liverpool dominates. | Liverpool |
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Spotlight Players
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool):
The Egyptian King loves playing at Anfield. With Forest missing their first-choice left-backs (Zinchenko/Aina), Salah will be up against a backup (Toffolo) or a makeshift defender. Expect him to cut inside and shoot on sight.
Murillo (Nottingham Forest):
The Brazilian center-back has been a revelation. He will need the game of his life to stop Nunez and Salah. His ability to play long diagonal passes to Elanga will be Forest’s best attacking weapon.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Statistical Snapshot
| Metric | Liverpool | Nottingham Forest |
| League Position | 8th | 19th |
| Last 5 Matches | 2W, 3L | 2W, 2D, 1L |
| Goals Scored (Season) | 24 | 16 |
| Clean Sheets | 4 | 3 |
| Home/Away Form | Strong Home | Resilient Away |
Explanation: Liverpool scores heavily but concedes cheaply. Forest struggles for goals (especially without Wood) but is becoming hard to beat.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Fan Reactions
Liverpool Fans:
“We simply cannot lose to Forest at home again. That 1-0 last year still haunts me.”
“No Frimpong is a blow, but Bradley is more than capable. We need Nunez to finish his chances today.”
Nottingham Forest Fans:
“No Wood, no CHO, no Aina… we are down to the bare bones. A draw would be a miracle.”
“In Nuno we trust. Park the bus, hit them on the break with Elanga. 1-0 masterclass incoming.”
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Where to Watch
- UK: Not Televised (3pm Blackout) – Highlights on Match of the Day (BBC).
- India: Star Sports Select 1, JioStar App.
- USA: Peacock Premium.
- Australia: Optus Sport.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Match-Defining Factors
- Forest’s Injury Crisis: Missing their spine (Wood, Luiz, Aina) forces them to play a containment game. They simply don’t have the personnel to go toe-to-toe.
- The First 20 Minutes: If Liverpool scores early, the floodgates could open. If Forest survives the first wave, the Anfield crowd might get anxious (remembering the Palace game).
- Set-Pieces: Liverpool has conceded from corners recently. Forest will play for dead-ball situations.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Prediction
Score Prediction: Liverpool 2–0 Nottingham Forest
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Liverpool Win & Under 3.5 Goals (Forest will defend deep).
- Clean Sheet: Liverpool YES (Forest missing their main goal threats).
- Card Market: Over 4.5 Cards (Forest will commit tactical fouls to stop transitions).
Analysis: Nottingham Forest’s injury list is simply too long to expect a result at Anfield. Without Chris Wood as an outlet and Douglas Luiz to control the tempo, they will eventually buckle under Liverpool’s pressure. Salah and Diaz to provide the goals.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Final Word
This is a classic “Attack vs Defense” scenario. Liverpool cannot afford another slip-up at Anfield if they want to stay in the title race. Nottingham Forest arrives wounded but dangerous, with a blueprint on how to frustrate the Reds. However, with so many key absentees for the visitors, anything other than a routine home win would be a disaster for Arne Slot.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — FAQs
- When is Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest?
A:- Saturday, 22 November 2025, at 15:00 GMT (20:30 IST).
- Is Jeremie Frimpong playing?
A:- No, Jeremie Frimpong is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Conor Bradley is expected to replace him at right-back.
- Why is Chris Wood not playing?
A:- Forest’s top scorer is out with a knee injury, leaving Taiwo Awoniyi to lead the line.
- Where can I watch in India?
A:- The match is live on Star Sports Select 1 and streaming on JioStar.
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