Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Premier League Match Preview and Prediction

Kick-off: Saturday, 22 October 2023, 8pm BST Anfield, Liverpool.

Two of the most famous names in English football will lock horns at Anfield as Liverpool welcome promoted newly-promoted Nottingham Forest to Merseyside in the Premier League on Saturday night.

Jurgen Klopp's men have made a sluggish start to the defence of their FA Cup and Carabao Cup crowns, but they remain in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple after beating Manchester City on penalties in the Community Shield. Erling Haaland makes his Premier League debut for the champions at West Ham United, while Tottenham travel to Wolves in the weekend's other Saturday evening kick-off.

Forest secured a Championship play-off final victory over Huddersfield Town at Wembley in May to make an immediate return to the Premier League after a 23-year absence. Steve Cooper's men have lost just one of their opening seven league games, but they have also only won two.

Team news

Liverpool could be without Luis Diaz for their clash with Forest, after the Colombian star was forced off in the first half of last weekend's draw at Craven Cottage with a knee injury. Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also injury doubts for Klopp, who will be without the suspended Darwin Nunez after the Uruguayan striker was sent off against Crystal Palace.

Forest have no fresh injury concerns following their 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Monday.

Predicted line-ups

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Jota

Forest: Henderson; Williams, Cook, McKenna, Toffolo; Yates, Freuler, Mangala; Lingard, Awoniyi, Johnson

Prediction

Liverpool have won their last three Premier League matches against newly-promoted sides, scoring 10 goals without reply. Forest have only won one of their last six Premier League matches against Liverpool, losing four times. The Reds are strong favourites to win this match, but Forest have shown that they are no pushovers, so we expect a competitive contest at Anfield.

Our prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Nottingham Forest