Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest – News and Probable Lineups

Liverpool is ready to embark on a new journey at Anfield this Saturday, as they host Nottingham Forest for their inaugural Premier League home match of the season.

The Reds will aim to improve upon their unsatisfactory draw from the opening weekend, whereas Forest will be eager to avoid suffering a third consecutive defeat.

Match overview

Liverpool encountered difficulties throughout the 2025-26 season under previous head coach Arne Slot. Although Andoni Iraola’s first game may not have showcased the best performance, he will be looking to ensure a solid start in front of their home fans.

The Reds were held to a 2-2 draw by Newcastle United last Sunday afternoon, managing to equalize in stoppage time thanks to a well-taken penalty by Dominik Szoboszlai.

Iraola’s squad faced the match with a depleted roster needing reinforcements from the transfer window, and the draw highlighted the pressing need for improvements within the lineup.

Rio Ngumoha was positioned on the right wing with Cody Gakpo, linked to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, on the left. Despite Gakpo scoring, the two struggled to provide adequate service for £125m forward Alexander Isak.

Additionally, Liverpool’s double pivot of Ryan Gravenberch and Szoboszlai drew considerable criticism for their defensive shortcomings, as both players were culpable for Newcastle’s goals. The club has reportedly been looking into acquiring Mônaco midfielder Lamine Camara in the days that followed.

In what will be his first league match at Anfield in charge of the Reds, Iraola will hope his players exhibit a more robust defensive display on Saturday. Historically, the Merseysiders have triumphed in their opening home game in 12 of the last 13 seasons, which will bolster his optimism.

In contrast, Forest has faced considerable instability over recent seasons, with their latest transition under Oliver Glasner struggling to gain momentum.

The Garibaldis commenced their 2026-27 Premier League campaign with a 1-0 loss to Leeds United last Saturday, and followed that with another defeat, this time 2-0 in the EFL Cup against the same opponents three days later.

Given the rapid turnover of managers at the City Ground – with Glasner becoming the club’s fifth manager in under a year – enduring a third straight defeat this weekend may spark concerns regarding the Austrian’s position, even at this early juncture of his reign.

Nonetheless, Forest has failed to find the back of the net in four of their last six matches, and without a marked improvement in their attacking output, they could face a challenging outing at Anfield.

Conversely, Liverpool has shown vulnerabilities to counter-attacks, and with the Tricky Trees having lost only one of their last four encounters with the Reds (winning two and drawing one), there may be cautious optimism among their supporters regarding Saturday’s fixture.

Team News

Liverpool remains without several long-term injured players, including centre-back Giovanni Leoni and right-back Conor Bradley, who are both rehabilitating from knee injuries.

In their absence, Iraola may opt for Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez as full-backs, flanking Jeremy Jacquet and captain Virgil van Dijk, while Ronald Araujo could be available from the bench, and Joe Gomez remains out due to a muscle injury.

In an attacking sense, striker Hugo Ekitike is currently in recovery from an Achilles injury sustained in April, although Alexander Isak is expected to lead the attack alongside Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz, and Cody Gakpo.

On the other hand, Forest will be without right-back Nicolo Savona, who faces a few more weeks sidelined due to a minor setback while recovering from a knee injury. Additionally, the versatile Neco Williams is doubtful after picking up a knock against Leeds on Tuesday.

If Williams is unable to play, Luca Netz is likely to take over as Glasner’s left wing-back, with Ola Aina operating on the right flank.

Moreover, Ryan Yates is out, and key attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is doubtful with a knee strain, though the Garibaldis have been working hard to ensure he is fit to feature against Liverpool.

Liverpool probable starting XI:

Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isaac

Nottingham Forest probable starting XI:

Sales; Cunha, Milenkovic, Murillo; Aina, McAtee, Sangare, Netz; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Jesus

Liverpool didn’t perform at their best against Newcastle in their opener, yet they should manage to overcome Forest in Iraola’s first Premier League home match at the helm.

Nonetheless, the Garibaldis may still find a way onto the score sheet, despite their recent difficulties in attack, considering the defensive issues faced by the Reds.