Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest: Premier League – preview, teams, prediction

By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and Reuters. Published On 28 Aug 202628 Aug 2026.

Key points

• They have faced each other 124 times; Liverpool winning 61, Forest 33 and 30 draws.
• Alisson (goalkeeper); Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Munoz, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
• Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister struck the winner deep into stoppage-time as his side snatched a scarcely-deserved 1-0 win at Forest in the Premier League in February.
• Sels (goalkeeper); Cunha, Milenkovic, Murillo; Aina, McAtee, Sangare, Netz; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Jesus.
• Although Forest are hopeful that both key players will be fit in time, full-back Neco Williams and playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White are both doubts due to knocks.

Who: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest What: English Premier League Where: Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom When: Saturday, August 29, at 12: 30pm (11: 30 GMT) How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the buildup from 08: 30 GMT ahead of our live text commentary stream.

As Liverpool host Forest at Anfield, both sides are looking for their first wins of the season.

Although they battled to come back from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle, liverpool struggled in their first competitive game under new boss Andoni Iraola.

In practice, the Reds are still hoping to bolster their rather threadbare squad and are reportedly closing in on a accord to sign French forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, Forest have lost their first two games of the season as they commence a new era under coach Oliver Glasner.

Forest lost both games at home to Leeds – the first a 1-0 defeat in their opening league game last weekend, the second a 2-0 midweek loss in the League Cup.

So both teams will be particularly eager to find their form at Anfield and secure back to winning ways. Iraola hoping for 'good news shortly' in transfer market.

Liverpool's new boss remarked on Thursday it is no secret the club are in the hunt for more wingers after reports that the Reds are edging closer to a agreement for Barcola.

Liverpool have additionally been credited with an interest in Brighton's Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr as potential recruits to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah's departure.

"We cannot talk about players that right now are not ours, but it is evident that we are trying to improve or try to fill that position because we don't have the numbers, " Iraola informed a pre-match news conference ahead of his home debut against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

"I hope we have good news soon but we are still not there."

In practice, the arrival of French international Barcola could lead to Cody Gakpo's exit from Anfield.

In practice, the Dutchman, who scored in Iraola's first match in charge in a 2-2 draw at Newcastle last weekend, is reportedly a target for Manchester City and Tottenham.

"When the market is open, you cannot guarantee anything with anyone. You never know who's going to arrive, " Iraola continued when asked concerning Gakpo's future.

"I would like to know how the market finishes but I don't know what will happen with any of our players. I cannot guarantee anything." 'I'm no magician': Glasner already feeling the heat.

For context, the Austrian expressed frustration with the recruitment situation at his new club after their second defeat to Leeds, saying that Forest had "ignored reality" after losing at home to Leeds for the second time in a matter of days.

"The fact is that this team had a relegation battle for nine months. Particularly turbulent season and it concluded with a massive effort to stay in the league, and this is our starting point, " he remarked.

It's really particularly notable not to blame anybody since sometimes I tell them facts and they say, 'Oh, Glasner is complaining'.

No, no, no. But best midfielder leaves the club and now we expect we compete for European places since Oliver Glasner is in. Sorry, this is what I can't deliver within six weeks.

"I'm no magician, no messiah, just hard work. That is what we have to do."

Glasner should at least be pleased that Forest broke the club's transfer record on Thursday to sign the talented, but out-of-favour young striker Liam Delap from Chelsea for a documented 45 million pounds ($61m).

Notably, the Opta supercomputer has created Liverpool the favourites, with a win probability of 61.1 percent. While a draw was estimated at a 20.7 percent likelihood, forest were given a 18.2 percent chance of winning.

They have faced each other 124 times; Liverpool winning 61, Forest 33 and 30 draws. What happened when Liverpool and Forest last played?

After a pedestrian 90 minutes in which they barely managed a shot on target, Mac Allister lit the fuse with a stoppage-time effort that was ruled out for handball before rifling home a rebound in the 97th minute to grab the win.

Notably, the Reds are missing a number of long-term casualties, including forward Hugo Ekitike. This person is recovering from an Achilles injury, as well as right-back Conor Bradley and centre-back Giovanni Leoni, who have knee matters. Defender Joe Gomez remains sidelined due to a muscle injury.

Alexander Isak is again probable to play at centre forward, with Florian Wirtz playing behind him in the number 10 role. Cody Gakpo is due to play on the left wing, despite documented interest from other clubs.

Victor Munoz impressed when he came off the bench against Newcastle, and may start out on the right wing in place of Rio Ngumoha.

While injured midfielder Ryan Yates is additionally set to miss out, defender Nicolo Savona has been ruled out after a setback in his return from a knee difficulty.

Taken together, the developments around liverpool vs Nottingham Forest: Premier League point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.