Liverpool Starting XI vs Nottingham Forest: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup | OneFootball

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Nottingham Forest: Injury Latest and Selection Headaches for Slot

Liverpool arrive at the City Ground with a familiar mixture of optimism and anxiety, the sort that follows a club chasing Europe yet wrestling with the relentlessness of an English winter. Arne Slot’s side, chasing Champions League football in his first Premier League season in charge, know there is little margin for error. Nottingham Forest, under Vítor Pereira, already embarrassed Liverpool at Anfield earlier in the campaign, and this return fixture feels less like routine league fare and more like an examination of Liverpool’s resilience.

Slot confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong will miss the trip after a groin injury suffered in Europe, saying, “Jeremie will not be involved this week, we hope he will be involved next week if things go as planned.” The manager was less optimistic about Wataru Endo, adding, “Wata will be out for a long time, we don’t know exactly how long.” It is the kind of injury latest that forces a rethink, not just of personnel, but of rhythm.

Photo: IMAGO

Injury Latest Forces Defensive Decisions

Slot’s Liverpool have thrived on stability in defence this season, but injuries threaten to unpick that thread. Frimpong’s absence removes pace and width from the right flank, and Endo’s longer-term lay-off deprives Liverpool of midfield ballast. Joe Gomez, “ready to start” according to the same Standard report, may be called upon again, yet that comes with its own questions. Does Slot disrupt an established centre-back partnership or shuffle his deck to keep balance in midfield?

This is where Liverpool’s squad depth will be tested. Ryan Gravenberch is tipped to come into the midfield rotation, while Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister continue their careful dance between creativity and control. Hugo Ekitike is also expected to return to the starting XI, a reminder that Liverpool’s attacking options remain plentiful even when injuries bite.

Slot, who took over from Jürgen Klopp last summer, has been praised for coaxing clarity from chaos. Yet moments like this are managerial examinations. Liverpool’s injury latest feels less like misfortune and more like a test of adaptability.

Predicted Lineup Signals Tactical Tweaks

The predicted lineup circulating ahead of kick-off suggests a side capable of both patience and punch. Alisson in goal, Gomez alongside Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson at left-back, and an attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo supporting Ekitike.

It is a selection that reflects Slot’s belief in balance. The midfield, likely including Gravenberch and Jones, will be tasked with controlling tempo, while Salah remains Liverpool’s north star in attack. For all the talk of systems, it often comes down to individuals. Salah’s output remains elite, Van Dijk’s leadership steady, and Alisson’s reliability priceless.

Forest, meanwhile, will not be overawed. Pereira’s team have rediscovered steel, and they will see Liverpool’s predicted lineup not as a threat but as an opportunity.

City Ground Challenge Awaits

Liverpool lost 3-0 to Forest at Anfield earlier this season, a result that still lingers. In tight races for European places, such dropped points echo loudly. Chelsea, managed now by Liam Rosenior, and Manchester United under Ruben Amorim continue to jostle in the same crowded lane. Slot knows every point counts.

Matches like this define seasons. Win, and Liverpool’s narrative becomes one of recovery and resolve. Lose, and doubts creep in about depth and durability.

Slot, calm as ever, will focus on execution. Liverpool’s predicted lineup, shaped by injury latest setbacks, must still deliver. Football is not played on paper, after all. It is played on grass, in cold air, under pressure.

And Liverpool, as ever, must answer.