Nottingham Forest face Liverpool in the Premier League at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.
Forest were held to a goalless draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last league outing, while Liverpool dug deep to win 1-0 at Sunderland.
Match preview
Manager Vitor Pereira will be aiming to build on the momentum gained in the 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce in the Europa League knockout round play-off on Thursday.
Forest could be level on points with 17th-placed West Ham United ahead of kick-off, making it crucial that they secure a positive result to aid their fight for survival.
They have collected nine points from their last six games – one more than Liverpool within that period. However, they are winless in their last five league home games.
Forest are expected to sit deep, hit on the counter-attack and target the gaps left by Liverpool’s advancing full-backs.
Liverpool lost 3-0 in the reverse fixture and are now winless in their last three Premier League games against Forest.
However, the defending champions have never lost back-to-back matches against the hosts in the competition.
Back-to-back victories over Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion have raised expectations, but that optimism would be dampened without a victory at Forest.
Liverpool would move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United if they win on Sunday.
Team news
Forest remain without John Victor, Matz Sels, Chris Wood, Nicolo Savona and Willy Boly.
Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are ruled out.
Predicted line-ups
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Angus Gunn, Neco Williams, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare, Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye, Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson Becker, Dominic Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Milos Kerkez, Alexis McAllister, Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike.
Prediction
We fancy Liverpool to win 2-1.
Stats from whoscored.com & transfermarkt.com.
