For just the second time in the 2024/25 Premier League season, Anfield will host a match when Nottingham Forest comes to town.
Liverpool will be looking to secure maximum points when Nottingham Forest visit on Matchday 4.
The last encounter between both sides was decided by a 99th-minute Darwin Nunez header in dramatic scenes at the City Ground. That made it three consecutive wins for Liverpool against the Garibaldi.
This time, the drums of change are beating loudly at the red side of Merseyside as they enter a new era following Jurgen Klopp’s exit. A legendary spell which lasted over eight years included Premier League and Champions League triumph and a new chapter has now begun under Arne Slot.
To ease the Dutchman into his new role, Fenway Sports Group has brought back Michael Edwards to lead their football operations as Julian Ward also returns. Pedro Marques is in as director of football development and Hans Leitart is head of goalkeeping.
Richard Hughes has been appointed as the club’s new sporting director and he will be assisted by their former loans and pathways manager David Woodfine. This whole structure will seek to ensure that the team is on the best path to succeed under the new boss.
The current team is not far off a top side as they pushed for the Premier League title well into April until Klopp’s ageing stars tailed off. Yet, they sealed a third-place finish and their triumph in the Carabao Cup final demonstrated the quality of the young talent within their ranks.
Liverpool will be keen to maintain similar levels this term and they must grab the maximum points on offer against Forest.
On the other hand, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will be hopeful rather than expectant of a result at Anfield. The last two seasons have certainly been good lesson curves for Forest.
As they stared down the barrel of relegation after their first Premier League season in 23 years,
Forest collected 11 points from their final six games. That experience toughened them for their second campaign as a poor start led to Steve Cooper’s sacking by December 2023, Nuno was appointed in his place but there was further turmoil for the Portuguese manager to manage.
Nottingham Forest were charged with breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules for their accounts in the 2022/23 season. Four points were deducted to push them into the relegation places, with their appeal against the penalty also rejected.
Nevertheless, they finished 17th and beat the drop by six points, hoping to kick on and establish themselves further up the table this term.
A result against Liverpool, however unlikely, is still feasible given they are in the early days of Arne Slot’s reign. Forest will be looking to pounce on any errors on the day.
Their Premier League campaign begins against Bournemouth before they travel to Southampton and take on Wolves, these fixtures allow Forest to gain confidence from their first three matches and seemingly arrive at Anfield on a mission.
They certainly have the firepower to hurt their hosts.
Team news
Club stalwarts such as Adrian, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Calvin Ramsay have all departed Liverpool this summer, so replacements are expected.
Additionally, the futures of Mohammed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are up in the air as their contracts expire next summer.
While the club are working on sorting the deals, some quality acquisitions have been mooted as they need attacking reinforcements especially if Luis Diaz were to leave. Eberechi Eze is a target for the forward positions should the need arise.
The midfield is also in need of bolstering after Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister shared duties in the holding role last season. Free agent Adrien Rabiot is being considered while Liverpool has reportedly held talks with Atalanta’s Ederson.
Nottingham Forest, their summer business has been characterised by a new recruitment model that sees them focus on signing talented but energetic players. Carlos Miguel, Marko Stamenic, Eric da Silva Moreira, Elliot Anderson, and Nikola Milenkovic have thus joined this summer.
Indeed, they are set to remain busy as they also want Gremio youngster Gustavo Nunes and are reportedly interested in signing the out-of-contract Kelechi Iheanacho. Third-choice goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos has been sold to Newcastle but more departures are expected before the transfer window closes.
Prediction
Nuno Espírito Santo has lost all seven of his Premier League meetings with Liverpool, so there is little inspiration to hold on to. Nevertheless, he must fire up his team to snatch a big scalp that could galvanize them so early in the season.
Liverpool’s quality may just be too much on the day, but the Reds are expected to continue their fine record against the West Bridgford side.
Liverpool 3-0 Nottingham Forest