Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest LIVE
A resounding 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday saw defending champions Liverpool drop to 11th in the Premier League table, with the Reds having suffered six defeats in their last seven league outings.
The hosts started brightly but found themselves behind when centre-back Murillo rifled in the opener following a first-half corner. Forest were denied a quick-fire second goal after it was ruled that scorer Igor Jesus accidentally handled the ball, but the visitors soon doubled their advantage anyway when full-back Nicolo Savona was picked out by ex-Liverpool defender Neco Williams just 39 seconds after half-time. With the energy sapped from Liverpool’s players and the home crowd, Sean Dyche’s men pushed for a third and earned it through playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, who has now found the target in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Arne Slot’s group could find no answer to prevent their 2025/26 campaign going from bad to worse as time ticked away, with the visitors - now unbeaten in four games and moving out of the relegation zone - leaving Merseyside having secured back-to-back victories at one of football’s most daunting grounds. Relive all the action from Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest below in Standard Sport's dedicated match blog!
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest latest news
- GOAL! Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest: Gibbs-White fires in third
- GOAL! Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest: Williams sets up Savona just after half-time
- DISALLOWED GOAL: Forest striker Igor Jesus sees effort ruled out for handball
- GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest: Murillo rifles in opener after corner
- Liverpool team news: Five changes as Wirtz ruled out, Alisson returns, Isak starts
- Nottingham Forest team news: Visitors unchanged, Hudson-Odoi only fit enough for bench
REPORT: Forest impress as Liverpool slump to sixth defeat in seven Premier League games
17:36 , Alex DakersNottingham Forest stunned Anfield for the second successive season with an historic 3-0 win consigning a disjointed and dispirited Liverpool to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches.
Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White scored the goals but much of the damage was self-inflicted by Arne Slot’s side, whose title defence lies in tatters as they slipped to 11th in the table.
It was Forest’s biggest win at Anfield – and the third in six matches under new manager Sean Dyche – and Liverpool’s heaviest home defeat since losing 4-1 to Manchester City in 2021.
Defeat adds more fuel to the fire of critics who say the Reds’ £450million summer spending spree has destabilised the team and it was no more evident than putting British record signing Alexander Isak straight back in the team after a month out as Slot tries to fast-track his return to match fitness.
The ploy did not work with the Sweden international looking out of touch with his team-mates, managing just one touch in the opening 20 minutes.
But the truth is there are too many playing poorly, the defensive resilience is almost non-existent, connections are not working and morale is low.
F/T! Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
16:57 , Alex DakersAnd there is the full-time whistle.
Back-to-back wins for Nottingham Forest under Sean Dyche, who deserve all the plaudits for a brilliant performance at Anfield today.
But there will be many, many questions asked of Liverpool after this latest loss leaves the defending champions 11th in the Premier League table.
Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
16:56 , Alex Dakers90+5mins: Chiesa’s right-footed shot from the middle of the box is blocked.
It’s just not happening for the Reds today.
Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
16:54 , Alex Dakers90+3mins: Liverpool are about to lose consecutive league games by a three-goal margin for the first time since 1965.
Not the way Arne Slot will have wanted to mark his 50th Premier League game at the helm.
The Reds slip to 11th in the table as things stand.
Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
16:53 , Alex Dakers90mins: Five minutes of stoppage time at Anfield.
All the noise here is, quite understandably, coming from the away end.
Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
16:49 , Alex Dakers87mins: Chiesa is booked for expressing his frustrations after conceding a corner.
Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
16:47 , Alex Dakers86mins: Igor Jesus makes way, as does Dan Ndoye, with Hudson-Odoi and Yates their replacements.
Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
16:45 , Alex Dakers84mins: Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ryan Yates set to come on for Forest.
Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
16:44 , Alex Dakers83mins: A long, long afternoon for Liverpool continues as Federico Chiesa fires over.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
16:40 , Alex Dakers78mins: But then it goes from bad to worse for Liverpool!
Murillo knocks a quick free-kick out to the right, Omari Hutchinson cuts inside to force a save from Alisson but Morgan Gibbs-White is there to poke the rebound in.
That’s a goal in three successive games for the first time in the Nottingham Forest playmaker’s career. Flourishing under Sean Dyche!
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:39 , Alex Dakers78mins: Liverpool make another change, with Rio Ngumoha on for Curtis Jones.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:39 , Alex Dakers77mins: Dominik Szoboszlai gets some power behind his effort, but Matz Sels gets down low for a comfortable enough stop.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:37 , Alex Dakers76mins: Forest corner, Igor Jesus heads it towards goal but Alisson saves his countryman’s effort.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:35 , Alex Dakers74mins: It will be a sixth defeat in seven Premier League games for Liverpool if the score-line stays like this.
Pretty woeful form from the reigning champions.
Forest have had more attempts (five versus four) and attempts on target (two versus zero) in this second half, too.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:33 , Alex Dakers72mins: Gibbs-White and Murillo were both stood over that free-kick and it’s the former that hits it - straight into the wall.
Liverpool break quickly but the attack ends with a free-kick to Forest after a cheap foul by Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:32 , Alex Dakers71mins: Virgil van Dijk takes his eye off the ball and trods on the foot of Igor Jesus as the Forest striker tries to dart past him.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:30 , Alex Dakers68mins: Isak and Kerkez off, Chiesa and Robertson on.
That’ll be Ekitike up top by himself, you’d imagine, with Chiesa perhaps drifting across the frontline.
Straight swap at left-back, meanwhile.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:29 , Alex Dakers68mins: Forest’s corner is seen off with relative ease, and here come some more Liverpool changes.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:28 , Alex Dakers67mins: Ryan Gravenberch is booked for a handball.
Elliot Anderson whips in the resulting free-kick from the left, but Dominik Szoboszlai heads it up and over.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:27 , Alex Dakers66mins: The hosts have had about three quarters of the possession here at Anfield, but still they sit goalless with a deficit of two.
Just over 20 minutes plus stoppages to go.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:26 , Alex Dakers64mins: Liverpool think they should have a penalty with Salah going to ground under some light contact. VAR says no.
Forest gallop up the other end and elicit a relatively simple save from Alisson, before the Reds go right back up the other end with a half chance for Alexander Isak.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:24 , Alex Dakers63mins: Sharp build-up play again from Mohamed Salah but the finishing touch is lacking on his 300th Premier League appearance.
The Egyptian got a shot away after dodging teammate Hugo Ekitike in the box, but it’s wide.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:22 , Alex Dakers60mins: Omari Hutchinson is coming on for Forest as we tick past the hour mark. Nicolas Dominguez makes way.
Sloppy play from Liverpool kills the momentum of their latest foray forward.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:20 , Alex Dakers58mins: Corner to Liverpool, an eighth of the afternoon.
Szoboszlai curls it in, but Forest clear.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:17 , Alex Dakers55mins: That is indeed the change that Arne Slot makes.
Konate off for Ekitike as Ryan Gravenberch drops back into central defence alongside countryman Virgil van Dijk.
Two up front for the Reds, with Ekitike beside fellow summer signing Alexander Isak!
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:15 , Alex Dakers54mins: Hugo Ekitike is getting ready to come on for Liverpool.
Hearing that Ibrahima Konate might be coming off, too.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:14 , Alex Dakers53mins: Nottingham Forest are on course for back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time under Sean Dyche, and - perhaps even more significantly - back-to-back league wins at Anfield for the first time since 1963.
Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:12 , Alex Dakers50mins: That was just about the worst start Liverpool could have made to this second half, and the hosts are yet to really find a response.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
16:07 , Alex Dakers46mins: It’s looking like the latter!
Barely 40 seconds into the second half, Forest double their lead as Nicolo Savona arrives in the box at just the right time to knock home a cutback from former Liverpool full-back Neco Williams, who did brilliantly to battle into the area.
Second half begins
16:06 , Alex DakersBack underway at Anfield!
Can Liverpool find an equaliser, or will Nottingham Forest see this out to win back-to-back games for the first time under Sean Dyche?
PL weighs in on goal decisions
15:56 , Alex DakersThe Premier League Match Centre has weighed in on both of the big decisions in that first half, ruling that Dan Ndoye was not in Alisson’s line of vision during Murillo’s opener before deeming that Igor Jesus accidentally handled the ball before finding the back of the net two minutes after his side took the lead.
I’ll let you all find clips of that second incident yourselves, but it did appear to be a contentious decision. Forest certainly believe the ball hit Jesus’s chest, not his arm.
Here’s one angle of the first goal, meanwhile:
#LIVNFO – 33’
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) November 22, 2025
The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the line of vision of Alisson and did not make an action that impacted an opponent.
#LIVNFO – 35’
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) November 22, 2025
The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Jesus accidentally handled the ball before scoring.
H/T! Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
15:50 , Alex DakersAnd indeed, that’s all we have time for in this first half.
Work to do for Arne Slot’s men after the interval; Sean Dyche will certainly be the happier of the two gaffers at Anfield just now.
Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
15:49 , Alex Dakers45+4mins: Little else to report from this stoppage time...
Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
15:46 , Alex Dakers45mins: Salah breaks away down the right and into the box, hits it - potentially attempting a cross, by the looks of things - with the outside of his left boot and forces a save by Sels.
Szoboszlai’s corner is cleared away from the near post.
Five minutes added on at the end of this half. Can Liverpool find an equaliser before the interval?
Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
15:42 , Alex Dakers42mins: Dominik Szoboszlai whips a free-kick into the area from the left, Alexis Mac Allister heads it towards goal but Matz Sels gets two hands to it to stop the ball slamming into the top corner.
Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
15:39 , Alex Dakers38mins: Nottingham Forest assistant Ian Woan has been cautioned for protesting about that disallowed goal.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
15:36 , Alex Dakers35mins: Do Forest have a second? Igor Jesus has the ball in the back of the net and wheels away in celebration, but Andy Madley has blown for a handball.
It’s against Jesus himself, with the ball appearing to hit the Forest striker somewhere between his upper arm and chest depending on the camera angle.
Goal disallowed, harshly say the visitors.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
15:33 , Alex Dakers33mins: And it’s arrowed in by Murillo!
Elliot Anderson’s initial delivery isn’t cleared properly by Liverpool, it falls to the Forest centre-back and the Brazilian takes a neat touch before rifling home past Alisson.
The Reds contest that Dan Ndoye - who was standing in an offside position - is in the goalkeeper’s line of sight, but VAR rule that the goal will stand.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:32 , Alex Dakers32mins: After the resulting corner, Cody Gakpo and Milos Kerkez both test Forest’s box with crosses from the left but suddenly the visitors have a counter-attack.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Dan Ndoye dash towards the Reds’ goal, but Ibrahima Konate gets back to cover.
Corner to Forest, now.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:31 , Alex Dakers30mins: Cody Gakpo has also been a bright spark when he’s been on the ball.
He has a speculative effort blocked, wins it back and gives it to Alexander Isak.
The Swede lays it off to Dominik Szoboszlai, whose effort takes a sizable deflection to loop over the crossbar.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:29 , Alex Dakers28mins: Mo Salah has been Liverpool’s main attacking outlet so far and he tries a one-two with Curtis Jones but Forest intercept it.
The two sides level for shots on target so far, one apiece without reward, but Liverpool have had six attempts in total to Forest’s three.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:27 , Alex Dakers26mins: Forest centre-back Murillo wins the ball on the halfway line, takes a few touches and fires one towards goal from some distance...
But Alisson gathers it with relative ease.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:26 , Alex Dakers25mins: 11 vs 11 again now but Liverpool remain on top, Alexander Isak attempting a ball across goal which is blocked by falls to Cody Gakpo.
The Dutchman unleashes a shot from inside the area but Elliot Anderson is there to make a crucial block again.
Liverpool win another corner, which Dominik Szoboszlai knocks to the edge of the box, but Curtis Jones skies his first-time effort.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:24 , Alex Dakers23mins: Sangare waits to return to the pitch as we play on.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:23 , Alex Dakers21mins: A pause in play as Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare is checked up on.
He took a bit of a kick from Ryan Gravenberch outside the box, and then fell in the box after a coming together with Alexis Mac Allister, but VAR have ruled there’s nothing to it.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:21 , Alex Dakers20mins: Good play again from Salah, twisting and turning before attempting a cross into a dangerous area - but Forest block this one.
The Egyptian and Dominik Szoboszlai, who have been linking up well down the right for the hosts, try again but to no avail.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:17 , Alex Dakers17mins: Szoboszlai hands over to Mohamed Salah, who dances through the Forest penalty area and knocks a pass across goal to Milos Kerkez, but the left-back can’t keep his effort down.
A lively start from the hosts, though, who you’d fancy to score first based on this initial period.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:16 , Alex Dakers16mins: In actuality, it appears that Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have been interchanging between right-back and central midfield so far in this opening quarter of an hour.
That’ll be a headache for Forest to keep track of.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:15 , Alex Dakers15mins: Dan Ndoye does well to rescue a ball near the byline and clips a cross in for Igor Jesus, but Liverpool scramble it out.
Forest come again and Neco Williams whips in a deep cross from the left, but there’s too much on it and the hosts have a goalkick.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:12 , Alex Dakers12mins: The Reds have a third corner already.
This one is taken by Dominik Szoboszlai and finds the head of Virgil van Dijk, but Forest get bodies in the way and then hoof the ball clear.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:09 , Alex Dakers8mins: Liverpool come dreadfully close to an opener as Cody Gakpo cuts into the box from the left and finds Alexis Mac Allister, whose goal-bound shot has Matz Sels beat - but it’s blocked by an excellently positioned Elliot Anderson.
The hosts win a corner after Murillo blocks the Argentine’s follow-up effort, but it comes to nothing.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:07 , Alex Dakers6mins: Salah swings it in but Gibbs-White knocks the ball clear.
The Reds work another teasing cross into the area but Ibrahima Konate can’t quite get to it. Forest goal-kick.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:06 , Alex Dakers6mins: Corner to Liverpool now, won by Mohamed Salah after a drive to the byline to put former Reds full-back Neco Williams under pressure.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:05 , Alex Dakers4mins: Centre-back Murillo has a go from about 40 yards but can’t beat the wall, and Nicolas Dominguez skies the follow-up.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:04 , Alex Dakers3mins: Morgan Gibbs-White, who has rediscovered his form for Forest recently with three goals so far under Sean Dyche, charges forward and is hauled down by Alexis Mac Allister.
Free-kick to the visitors.
Liverpool 0-0 Nottingham Forest
15:02 , Alex Dakers2mins: Confirmation for you all that Dominik Szoboszlai is the man who fills in for the injured Conor Bradley at right-back for Liverpool, with Curtis Jones taking the Hungarian’s place in midfield.
KICK-OFF!
15:00 , Alex DakersWe are underway at Anfield!
Here they come...
14:57 , Alex DakersThe teams are out!
Countdown to kick-off!
14:55 , Alex DakersJust waiting for the teams to come back out onto the Anfield pitch now...
Slot confident Isak is a 'big, big plus' for Liverpool
14:53 , Alex DakersAlexander Isak starts for Liverpool today, and Arne Slot is confident the Swedish striker will "end up being the player he was at Newcastle".
Slot said: “Alex, it will still take a bit of time but he will end up being the player he was at Newcastle if we get him fit, or how he was at Sociedad or all the other clubs he was at – he just needs to become fit.
“I do know that a 100% fit Alex is a big, big, big plus for this team. But for him to get there, he might need to have minutes where you could argue that another player might be further ahead of him in terms of match fitness.”
Getting ready...
14:48 , Alex DakersThe warm-ups are wrapping up at Anfield, meaning we’ll be underway very shortly!
Warming 🆙@AXA | #Ad pic.twitter.com/f2EMTU6UjD
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 22, 2025
Getting set on Merseyside. 💪 pic.twitter.com/CkcsFRMI77
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) November 22, 2025
Alisson's return a game-changer?
14:43 , Alex DakersHow important will this man be for Liverpool today?
Alisson has missed seven games with a hamstring injury but returns between the posts today.
He’s been such an important player for the Reds ever since his arrival in 2018.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is about as good a back-up as you’ll find across the Premier League, but the Georgian has conceded 10 goals and kept just one clean sheet in five league appearances so far.
It’s not all on the goalkeeper, though - Liverpool’s backline will also need to clean up their act if they are to keep Forest out today.
Liverpool look to turn form around as Forest aim for back-to-back wins
14:41 , Alex DakersLiverpool have lost five of their last six Premier League games, beating only Aston Villa in that time.
That victory came at Anfield, as did a Champions League triumph over Real Madrid a few days later, but the Reds entered the recent international break having suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, won their most recent trip to Anfield and are unbeaten in three games under Sean Dyche, including a maiden league victory last time out against Leeds.
Will his Tricky Trees make it two wins from two today, or can the hosts turn their poor domestic form around?
We’ll soon find out!
More milestones for Liverpool: Gravenberch hits ton, 300 games of Salah
14:35 , Alex DakersSlot’s 50th Premier League match in charge of Liverpool also coincides with a 100th appearance for the Reds by Ryan Gravenberch, and a 300th Premier League appearance for Mohamed Salah.
Slot looking for Liverpool win in 50th Premier League match
14:28 , Alex DakersToday marks a 50th Premier League match in charge of Liverpool for Arne Slot.
The Dutchman already holds the record for victories (36) during his first 50 games in charge of the club in all competitions, having reached that milestone back in April en route to last season’s Premier League title.
It has been undeniably trickier start to the current campaign, but he’ll hope his Reds can return to winning ways to mark the occasion today.
A 50th Premier League game in charge of the Reds for Arne ✊🔴 pic.twitter.com/pkxOK1kkAp
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 22, 2025
'Focused' Forest
14:23 , Alex DakersForest, meanwhile, have gone for a slo-mo arrival video!
Focused. 👊 pic.twitter.com/s3hgqXIZsF
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) November 22, 2025
Reds arrive at Anfield
14:20 , Alex DakersHere are the hosts arriving at Anfield earlier:
The Reds have arrived 👋📍 #LIVNFO@Expedia | #Ad pic.twitter.com/pijVHCMUlZ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 22, 2025
Forest unchanged
14:16 , Alex DakersForest, meanwhile, are unchanged from their last appearance.
Fair enough, as Sean Dyche sticks with the side that beat Leeds United 3-1 to secure his first Premier League win at the helm!
Five changes for Liverpool: Alisson, Kerkez, Jones, Gakpo, Isak in
14:08 , Alex DakersIf you’re counting, that’s five changes to Liverpool’s starting XI compared to the side that lined up at the Etihad a fortnight ago.
Alisson returns between the sticks at the expense of Giorgi Mamardashvili, as expected, while Alexander Isak is given the nod up top in place of Hugo Ekitike.
Andy Robertson missed training for personal reasons this week following his World Cup qualifying heroics with Scotland and Arne Slot elects to field Milos Kerkez - who has struggled since his arrival from Bournemouth this summer - at left-back instead.
Elsewhere, Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz miss out through injury with one of the incoming Curtis Jones and utility man Dominik Szoboszlai replacing Bradley at right-back while the other starts in midfield - we’ll soon get confirmation on which way around those two are arranged!
Wirtz, meanwhile, is replaced on the left side of Liverpool’s attack by Cody Gakpo.
Nottingham Forest confirmed line-up and subs
13:52 , Alex DakersAnd here’s Forest’s team news in full...
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; I.Jesus
Subs: John, Morato, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo, Hutchinson, Yates, Jair Cunha, McAtee, Boly
Liverpool confirmed line-up and subs
13:49 , Alex DakersHere’s that Liverpool team news in full; thoughts, Reds fans?
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Isak, Gakpo
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Ekitike, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha
NOTTINGHAM FOREST TEAM NEWS
13:46 , Alex DakersAnd now, the visitors!
Taking on Liverpool this afternoon. 📋 pic.twitter.com/GUbP34KsHw
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) November 22, 2025
LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS
13:45 , Alex DakersHere’s how the hosts line up today!
The Reds to take on Nottingham Forest at Anfield 👊🔴 #LIVNFO
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 22, 2025
Team news coming soon...
13:43 , Alex DakersWe’re expecting team news from Anfield in the next few minutes - we’ll bring both teams’ line-ups to you as soon as we have them!
Stability helping Forest improve as Gibbs-White and Anderson star
13:40 , Alex DakersNine players have been ever-present starters in the league for Forest since Dyche came in, providing some much-needed stability after a tumultuous start to 2025/26, and Morgan Gibbs-White has been back to playing his favoured central No10 role.
The England international has subsequently scored against Porto, Manchester United and Leeds, and could have had four in five matches were it not for a missed penalty against Sturm Graz in the Europa League.
Forest are yet to keep a clean sheet domestically but they have secured two out of two shut-outs in Europe under Dyche, whose maiden Premier League victory at the helm versus Leeds followed a draw with United and a loss at in-form Bournemouth.
Elliot Anderson has continued to excel and cement his status as one of England’s best midfielders ahead of next summer’s World Cup. A great all-rounder, he contributes defensively as well as taking set pieces, and even scored a penalty last time out.
Forest turning a corner and 'building mentality' under Dyche
13:35 , Alex DakersNottingham Forest, meanwhile, are currently unbeaten in three games under Sean Dyche and have lost just once in all competitions since the ex-Burnley and Everton boss arrived at the City Ground (P5, W2, D2, L1).
Forest entered the recent international break relishing a 3-1 win over similarly relegation-threatened Leeds United, a match in which stars Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson were both on target.
It followed a dismal start to the campaign for the Tricky Trees, who sunk firmly into the Premier League’s bottom three having struggled for goals and lost the defensive solidity that served them so well last season, with two managers - Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou - having already been axed prior to Dyche’s arrival last month.
Speaking about his side’s uptick in form, Dyche said: “Every time we win, it’s another step.
“We’re building that mentality. Every day we can do something to improve and look stronger for the next game.”
Slot: 'Good to be back' at Anfield but Liverpool must 'go and prove' title credentials
13:25 , Alex DakersArne Slot has said it is “good to be back” at Anfield as he acknowledged that Liverpool’s performance in their away day loss to Manchester City was “not what it should have been” and called for his defending champions to “go and prove” that they should be higher than eighth in the Premier League table.
"The week before the international break did not end in the way we would have wanted it to but this does not erase what happened in the two previous fixtures [with wins against Aston Villa and Real Madrid],” the Reds’ boss wrote in his programme notes.
"Our victories and performances against Aston Villa and Real Madrid – two teams who came to Anfield in very good form – allowed us to make two steps forward following a very difficult period in which results definitely were not good enough.
"So it was two steps forward followed by one step back and this means we have made progress at the same time as knowing there is a lot of work that needs to be done and more steps that need to be taken.
"Today brings us an opportunity on both fronts and we know that – as always – the harder we work the more likely we are to make the progress that isn't just desired, it is a necessity of being part of a club like Liverpool where expectations are only ever really high and rightly so.
Slot continued: "There has been a lot of talk about where we are at as a team – something else that is part and parcel of being at a club like Liverpool – but we know this better than anyone. Just as we were not perfect last season when we became champions and just as we knew we needed a lot of late goals to win our early games this season, we recognise that in a lot of our recent fixtures our biggest issue has been being on the wrong side of the small margins.
"This was even true of our defeat against Manchester City, even though we certainly would not challenge the belief that our opponents were deserved winners that day and we also recognise that our performance level was not what it should have been.
On today’s opponents, he added: "This journey will not come without challenge of course and today that comes from a Nottingham Forest team which we know is capable of causing problems for any opponents, especially as it is clear that their own form and performances have been improving in recent weeks.
"This is the nature of the Premier League. In other leagues it is sometimes possible to see a team that is towards the bottom and maybe see them as an 'easier' opponent but this definitely isn't true in England. It was only a matter of months ago that Forest finished seventh with 65 points having won at Anfield earlier in the season, so we know that their level is much higher than the current league table might suggest.
"We also believe the same is true of ourselves but there is no point just saying it or thinking it, we have to go and prove it."
Liverpool predicted line-up: Two enforced changes, Isak vs Ekitike
13:15 , Alex DakersThe other enforced change for Liverpool will see Florian Wirtz drop out of the starting line-up through injury, and he could be replaced by Cody Gakpo on the left-hand side of the attack.
Elsewhere, Alisson Becker is back in contention after missing the last seven games with a hamstring injury. The Brazilian has trained during the international break and is expected to win his place back from Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Alexander Isak is pushing to replace Hugo Ekitike in attack and Andy Robertson should be fine to start despite missing training on Thursday after captaining Scotland to victory in their successful quest to qualify for the World Cup earlier this week.
Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Isak
Injured: Wirtz, Bradley, Frimpong, Leoni
Big call facing Slot over Szoboszlai role
13:08 , Alex DakersLiverpool boss Arne Slot has a big decision to make in defence for this afternoon’s clash against Nottingham Forest as he looks to bounce back from his side’s humbling defeat at the hands of Manchester City before the international break.
The Dutchman will be forced into making at least two changes to the side that started at the Etihad Stadium, one of which is at right-back as Conor Bradley picked up a muscle issue while on international duty with Northern Ireland and is now set to be out of action for at least three weeks.
With regards to replacing Bradley, Slot has revealed that Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez are all options.
“He [Szoboszlai] is doing so well in every position. That’s true. He’s played really well as a full-back and played really well as a midfielder,” Slot said in Friday’s pre-match press conference.
“Curtis Jones played there last season. Joe Gomez can play there but Joe Gomez has played, I think if I’m correct, two times 90 minutes throughout the whole 2025 year. So, if we want to keep him available longer it’s maybe a bit of a risk to play him seven times in 22 days.
“He missed out on a training session yesterday by the way as well but we are expecting him to train today. [It’s] challenging but the good thing is we have still enough good players available and maybe one of them or two of them have to play in positions they usually don’t do. That’s what we have to accept.”
It is possible that Slot opts for Jones at full-back as Liverpool will be expected to dominate possession against Forest. This decision would allow Szoboszlai to continue in his favoured No10 role and potentially lower the risk of the Hungarian picking up a yellow card that would rule him out of the West Ham game.
Match odds
13:03 , Alex DakersWell, the bookmakers aren’t convinced that he will - but anything can happen in this mad game that is football!
Liverpool to win: 2/5
Nottingham Forest to win: 5/1
Draw: 3/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest: Head to head (h2h) history and results
12:58 , Alex DakersThe Reds failed to win either match against this opponent last season, first losing at home and then managing only a 1-1 draw away during a strong campaign from the Tricky Trees under former boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Will Sean Dyche manage to get a similar tune out of the squad today?
Liverpool wins: 60
Nottingham Forest wins: 32
Draws: 30
Standard Sport prediction
12:53 , Alex DakersDyche has instantly made Forest harder to play against, but a trip to Anfield is always a tough test.
Liverpool need to get their summer signings firing, with Alexander Isak having hit just one goal since his record move from Newcastle.
You would imagine that the Reds will have enough star quality to see this one through.
Liverpool to win, 3-1.
Nottingham Forest early team news: CHO expected back
12:48 , Alex DakersFor Forest, Sean Dyche has had to contend with absentees aplenty since his arrival in the dugout at the City Ground.
Ola Aina is back in training but the trip to Anfield is too soon for a return to action, while Douglas Luiz and on-loan Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko remain sidelined.
Chris Wood is set for a scan on a knee injury to determine his involvement and Callum-Hudson Odoi is expected to be available for selection.
Liverpool early team news: Wirtz and Bradley out, Alisson available
12:43 , Alex DakersLiverpool first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker is available after missing the last seven games across all competitions with a hamstring issue.
The Brazilian limped off in the Champions League defeat by Galatasaray back in September, with Giorgi Mamardashvili deputising in his place.
Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley picked up muscle injuries during the international break to join Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni on the sidelines.
Where to watch Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
12:38 , Alex DakersTV channel: In the UK, the game will not be televised live as it lands during the 3pm Saturday blackout.
Live blog: However, you can follow all the action on matchday right here in Standard Sport’s live blog.
Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and YouTube channel will show highlights from 5.15pm with Match of the Day broadcasting on BBC One at 10.20pm GMT.
When and where is kick-off?
12:33 , Alex DakersLiverpool vs Nottingham Forest is scheduled for a 3pm GMT kick-off today, Saturday, November 22, 2025.
The match will take place at Anfield, Liverpool.
Follow Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest LIVE
12:29 , Alex DakersLiverpool host relegation threatened Nottingham Forest in their first game back after the international break.
Arne Slot’s side find themselves eighth in the table after a spate of poor form that has seen the Reds win just once in their last five Premier League games.
The Merseysiders thought they had arrested their slide with victory over Aston Villa, followed by a morale-bolstering 1-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
However, they were brought back down to Earth with a bump as they were humbled 3-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
A win against struggling Forest would go a long way for the champions, who begin the weekend eight points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.
Stay with us as we bring you everything you need to know about today’s match, with kick-off just a few hours away!
