Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool in mid-season as a top-tier clash…
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool in mid-season as a top-tier clash…
Who would have thought?
Back in January, few—if any—foresaw Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool in mid-season as a top-tier clash. Yet, here we are. Forest continues to defy expectations, delivering performances that have transformed them from relegation contenders to European hopefuls under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo.
The celebrations in Nottingham show no signs of stopping. After an emphatic 3-0 victory over Wolves last Monday, Forest secured their sixth consecutive win in the top flight—something the club hasn’t achieved in 58 years. On top of that, they’ve kept clean sheets in four straight matches, a feat not seen since 1992.
Currently sitting on 40 points after 20 games, Forest matches the points tally of Leicester City at this stage during their legendary 2016 Premier League triumph. Dreams of European football—and more—are alive and well at the City Ground.
Chris Wood, with his latest goal, exemplifies Forest's resurgence. Meanwhile, left-back Neco Williams, a former Liverpool player, remains optimistic:
“Liverpool have been one of the world’s best teams this season, but we beat them at Anfield. Confidence in our group is sky-high right now. At home, with our fans behind us, we fancy our chances,” he told the English press.
Liverpool might still lead the league, but their form is raising eyebrows. Arne Slot's team has struggled to find consistency, with their recent 1-1 draw against Manchester United being a rare letdown. Worse still, their midweek Carabao Cup exit to Tottenham highlighted defensive frailties, particularly in the backline, where Kostas Tsimikas, Jarell Quansah, and Conor Bradley faltered.
Facing consecutive away matches against two of the league’s strongest home teams, Liverpool has their work cut out.
Nottingham Forest:
Nuno Espírito Santo will field his strongest XI after rotating heavily in the weekend’s 2-0 win over Luton. While Ibrahim Sangaré remains unavailable, Nottingham Forest’s defensive record speaks for itself. They’ve kept nine clean sheets this season—more than any other team in the league. Even more impressively, they’ve scored the first goal in 16 of their 20 matches, leading the division in that statistic.
Liverpool:
Darwin Núñez is suspended, and Joe Gomez remains sidelined. However, Arne Slot has a nearly full squad to choose from. Liverpool’s away record remains exceptional—they’re unbeaten on the road this season, scoring at least two goals in their last 12 Premier League matches. Despite this, Liverpool hasn’t found City Ground an easy place to visit, with last season’s narrow 1-0 victory their first win there in 13 attempts.
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool
Venue: City Ground
Date: Tuesday, 9 PM
Odds (Betsson): 5.30 – 4.20 – 1.65
Both teams are finding the net with consistency. Forest has scored in eight of their nine home matches, while Liverpool has scored at least twice in their last 12 league games. However, Liverpool has also conceded 11 goals in their last six outings.
Betting Tip: Both teams to score (BTTS) looks like a solid pick for this clash. odds 1,66 @ Betsson (4 units)
Brentford – Man City
Chelsea – Bournemouth
West Ham – Fulham
Nottingham Forest – Liverpool