Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Team news, head-to-head, more

As the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool clash kicks off at 4 p.m., the results might be a decider for the league leaders.

Meanwhile, both teams have a lot to contend with in terms of players’ readiness and availability.

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo says Chris Wood, Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly are nearing returns. Although it is not clear if any of them will be available on Saturday.

Ola Aina and Nuno Tavares remain sidelined.

Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai could return for Liverpool after resuming training on Thursday.

Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo are due to train on Friday and may also come back into contention.

Nine other players are ruled out, including Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Head-to-head

Liverpool have failed to win 13 consecutive top-flight away matches against Nottingham Forest (D7, L6) since a 2-0 win at the City Ground on 28 October 1984, when Ronnie Whelan and Ian Rush scored.

There has not been an away victory in any of the previous 13 Premier League meetings, which have produced nine home wins and four draws.

The City Ground is the only venue where Liverpool have played more than one Premier League game and failed to record a single victory (D3, L3). The other stadiums where they are winless are Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road, where they lost in 2011, and Luton’s Kenilworth Road, where they drew earlier this season.

Nottingham Forest

Forest have won three of their nine league games under Nuno Espirito Santo (D1, L5), as many victories as in their 17 top-flight fixtures under Steve Cooper this season (D5, L9).

Three of their four home league wins this season have come against sides in currently in the top eight (Aston Villa, Manchester United and West Ham).

They have scored in each of their nine Premier League matches under Nuno but have failed to keep a clean sheet, conceding 18 goals in total.

The Portuguese has lost all six of his league fixtures against Liverpool as a manager.

Taiwo Awoniyi has been directly involved in 15 goals in his last 19 Premier League matches, scoring 12 and assisting three.

Awoniyi scored the only goal against his former club Liverpool when Forest beat the Reds 1-0 at home last season.

Divock Origi has failed to score in 13 consecutive Premier League appearances (including all 12 for Forest) since netting for Liverpool in their 2-0 win against Everton at Anfield on 24 April 2022.

Liverpool

The Reds are unbeaten in all 15 of their league games this season against teams currently in the bottom half, only dropping points in 1-1 draws at Chelsea and Luton Town.

A 19th Premier League victory of the season would equal their final tally in 2022-23.

They have won 22 points from losing positions this season, their joint highest figure in a single Premier League campaign.

Liverpool’s total of 63 goals is the highest in the top flight this season.

The Merseysiders are three goals shy of 1,000 in all competitions under Jurgen Klopp.

Luis Diaz has been directly involved in five goals in his last five league appearances (three goals and two assists) – one more than in his previous 25 games.