Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest: Fomer Everton boss aiming to compound Slot’s blues | OneFootball

Liverpool Challenge Against Nottingham Forest

Liverpool return from the international break with a fixture that carries weight and expectation, a home test against Nottingham Forest at Anfield that feels significant for Arne Slot’s champions. The side that lifted the Premier League title in 2024-25 has stumbled in recent weeks and sits in eighth after taking just one win from their last five league matches.

Form Check and Anfield Setting

There was a sense that momentum had shifted with the victory over Aston Villa and the controlled 1-0 success against Real Madrid in Europe, but the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City cut through that fragile optimism. Liverpool remain eight points off Arsenal at the summit and need rhythm, fluency and confidence to return quickly if they want to stay in that race.

This encounter kicks off at 3pm GMT on Saturday 22 November 2025 and, due to the traditional blackout, will not be shown live in the UK. For many supporters, attention will turn to updates and matchday coverage from Anfield as the champions seek stability.

Squad Updates and Forest View

Liverpool’s biggest lift arrives between the posts. Alisson Becker is back in full training after seven weeks out, having limped off in the Champions League defeat to Galatasaray in September. Slot has already suggested he “expects” Alisson to be available for the Forest meeting, a timely boost after Giorgi Mamardashvili’s spell in goal.

Jeremie Frimpong remains sidelined following his injury in the win over Eintracht Frankfurt. The Dutch full-back has endured a difficult, injury-disrupted start to his Liverpool career and, although Slot indicates a return is close, this match may come too soon. Young defender Giovanni Leoni is unavailable for the season with an ACL injury.

Photo by IMAGO

Forest, now led by Sean Dyche, continue to deal with a heavy list of absentees. First-choice full-back Ola Aina is ruled out until the new year and Douglas Luiz remains missing from midfield. Yet Dyche could welcome several players back into the squad. Chris Wood’s possible return offers presence and experience up front, while Dilane Bakwa may also rejoin the attack. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Callum Hudson-Odoi are additional options who could regain minutes at Anfield.

Match Outlook and Prediction

Dyche has restored shape and resolve to Nottingham Forest and his team will not make life easy for Liverpool. Even so, Anfield has a way of accelerating recovery and Slot will want his summer signings to make their mark. Alexander Isak has scored only once since arriving from Newcastle, and this feels the right stage for a reset.

Liverpool hold the stronger resources and greater attacking depth, and with Alisson likely back, defensive certainty should improve. Forest will compete, but the expectation is that Liverpool find the clarity and incision that has been missing.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Nottingham Forest.