Premier League Preview: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

Liverpool face a daunting test in their Premier League title pursuit as they travel to The City Ground on Tuesday night to take on high-flying Nottingham Forest. This midweek fixture promises to be a thrilling encounter, with just two places and six points separating the two glorious clubs in the top-flight standings.

Arne Slot’s Reds are preparing to square off against one of only two sides to have outsmarted them this season, adding extra intrigue to an already captivating battle. Callum Hudson-Odoi’s second-half strike inflicted Liverpool’s first loss under Arne Slot when Forest claimed a 1-0 victory at Anfield in mid-September. 

Nottingham Forest Betting Preview (+400 at EveryGame) 

The Tricky Trees continue to defy expectations under Nuno Espírito Santo, entering Tuesday’s clash on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions. Forest’s latest triumph came in the FA Cup, where goals from Ryan Yates and Ramon Sosa secured a 2-0 victory over Luton Town.

Nottingham Forest’s remarkable run also includes five consecutive clean sheets, highlighting their defensive resilience. The team now sits on 40 Premier League points after just 20 games – matching Arsenal’s tally – and are on the verge of equaling their all-time best of seven straight league wins.

Their standout performers include Morgan Gibbs-White, who scored early in Forest’s 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, and towering Brazilian goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, who impressed with six saves against Luton. However, Matz Sels is expected to return between the sticks for Tuesday’s clash as he chases his 10th Premier League clean sheet of the season.

The Tricky Trees have a near-clean bill of health, with the Ivory Coast midfielder Ibrahim Sangare their sole absentee. Meanwhile, Danilo made his long-awaited return from injury against Luton Town and the Brazilian could feature again on Tuesday. 

It remains to be seen whether Espírito Santo may rotate his first-choice starting XI, with players like Carlos Miguel, James Ward-Prowse, Ramon Sosa, Jota Silva and Taiwo Awoniyi all pushing for starting roles.

Liverpool Betting Preview (-161 at EveryGame)

Arne Slot’s Reds bounced back from a controversial 1-0 League Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Tottenham Hotspur with a commanding 4-0 win over League Two side Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on Saturday. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning long-range strike was the pick of the goals, as the right-back redeemed himself following a lackluster display against Manchester United. Diogo Jota, Jayden Danns, and Federico Chiesa also contributed to the goal fest, showcasing the depth of Liverpool’s attacking options.

Despite their FA Cup success, fatigue from their recent 2-2 Premier League thriller against Manchester United may still linger. However, Arsenal’s stumble at Brighton (1-1 draw) allowed Liverpool to maintain a six-point lead at the top of the table, still with a game in hand.

Liverpool remain the only unbeaten team on the road in the Premier League season, scoring at least twice in each of their last 12 matches. This formidable away 7-2-0 form will be crucial as they seek to avenge September’s surprise 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Reds boss Arne Slot will have to pick his squad without the Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Elsewhere, Joe Gomez remains the only injury concern, but Jarell Quansah and Dominik Szoboszlai are fit and available. 

Up front, Cody Gakpo is likely to return to the starting XI, aiming to become the eighth Netherlands player to score in four straight Premier League matches.

One of the backup players who can potentially get more first-team minutes in Nunez’s absence is Jayden Danns. After making a cameo against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup, where he scored a third goal in two substitute appearances in the competition, it feels like a great moment to let the 18-year-old play again. 

Possible Starting Lineups of Nottingham Forest and Liverpool 

• Nottingham Forest: Matz Sels – Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams – Ryan Yates, Elliot Anderson – Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi – Chris Wood. (4-2-3-1) 
• Liverpool: Alisson – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson – Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch – Mohamed Salah, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo – Luis Diaz. (4-2-3-1) 

Spooky Express Betting Prediction 

The bookmakers have installed Liverpool as clear favorites for Tuesday night’s clash, with EveryGame pricing the Reds at -161 to secure all three points. Nottingham Forest, despite their impressive form, are seen as the underdogs at +400, while a draw is available at +310. 

For player-specific markets, Mohamed Salah is tipped at +110 as an Anytime Goalscorer, reflecting his consistent attacking threat. Cody Gakpo, who has been in scintillating form, also stands at +215 to find the back of the net, the same odds offered for Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood to make his mark on the scoresheet. These odds highlight the potential for goals from both sides in what promises to be a thrilling encounter at The City Ground.

Nottingham Forest have proven their mettle against top-tier opposition, with recent wins over Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Manchester United showcasing their credentials. However, Liverpool’s well-rested key players and outstanding away form still make them slight favorites.

In what promises to be a closely fought contest, expect Liverpool to edge past Forest and end their hosts’ stunning run – albeit by the slimmest of margins.

Mohamed Salah boasts 18 goals and 13 assists in 19 top-flight matches this season and will be keen to add to his tally. The Egyptian, however, failed to either score or assist in Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Tottenham last week, which was the first such case since the 2-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid in late November, when Salah missed a penalty. He’s yet to score at The City Ground, though, with Salah failing to find himself on the scoresheet in his only previous visit there – a 1-0 loss in October 2022. 

Spooky Express Free Play: Outcome And Both To Score – Liverpool and Yes +200 at EveryGame for 3/10 Units 

Spooky Express Free Play 2: Mohamed Salah Anytime Goalscorer +110 at EveryGame for 5/10 Units