Match Preview: Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool (Premier Leageue)

Match Preview: Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool

Date: Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Venue: The City Ground, Nottingham

• Nottingham Forest 2-0 Luton
• Wolves 0-3 Nottingham Forest
• Everton 0-2 Nottingham Forest
• Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham
• Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest
  

Under Nuno Espírito Santo, Nottingham Forest have been exceptional, winning their last seven matches in all competitions. Their defensive organisation and ability to execute swift counter-attacks have turned them into one of the league's in-form teams

• Liverpool 4-0 Accrington Stanley
• Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
• Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United
• West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
• Liverpool 3-1 Leicester
  

Liverpool, under Arne Slot, have carried their attacking dominance into this season. Slot’s tactical approach combines high pressing with possession-based football, evident in their explosive attacking form, scoring 14 goals in the last five games.

• Ibrahim Sangaré: Hamstring injury (February 2025)
  

• Darwin Núñez: Suspended
• Joe Gomez: Hamstring injury (February 2025)
  

• Goalkeeper: Matz Sels
• Defenders: Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenković, Alex Moreno
• Midfielders: Ryan Yates, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White
• Forwards: Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi
  

• Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
• Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson
• Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones
• Forwards: Luis Díaz, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo
  

Nottingham Forest

Forest will rely on their solid defensive structure and rapid counter-attacks. Gibbs-White’s creativity and Wood's strength in the final third will be essential in breaking down Liverpool’s defence. Their wing-backs, Aina and Moreno, will also play crucial roles in transitioning from defence to attack.

Strengths:

• Organised defensive structure.
• Lethal on the counter-attack.
• Excellent recent home form.

Weaknesses:

• Struggles in prolonged possession phases.
• Relies heavily on transitions for chances.
  

Liverpool will dominate possession and look to exploit Forest’s defensive gaps with Salah and Díaz’s directness and pace. Slot’s high-pressing philosophy ensures Liverpool are relentless in recovering possession, which could keep Forest pinned back in their half.

Strengths:

• High-intensity pressing and control in midfield.
• Clinical finishing from multiple attacking outlets.
• Versatility in attack with Salah, Díaz, and Gakpo.

Weaknesses:

• Vulnerable to quick counter-attacks.
• Defensive lapses without Ibrahima Konate not yet fully fit.
  

The match is likely to be a tactical battle, with Liverpool dominating possession and Forest aiming to capitalise on transitions. Forest’s home advantage and current form suggest they can cause Liverpool problems, but the visitors’ firepower and depth could ultimately prove decisive help them with a win in their pursuit of the Premier League title.

Liverpool’s attacking prowess and pressing game should give them the edge, but Forest’s counter-attacking threat means this will be no straightforward task. Expect a competitive, high-tempo match with goals for both sides.

Predicted Scoreline: Nottingham Forest 1–3 Liverpool

• Result: Liverpool to Win
• Both Teams to Score: Yes
• Total Goals: Over 2.5
  

Nottingham Forest are the only team to have beaten Liverpool in the Premier League this season, with Nuno Espirito Santo being the only manager to beat Arne Slot in any competitive match in 2024.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.