Evening Standard
·20 February 2026
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds

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·20 February 2026

Vitor Pereira takes charge of his first home game after replacing Sean Dyche
Liverpool are back in Premier League action this weekend as they face a Nottingham Forest side under new management.
Vitor Pereira, the ex-Wolves boss, has officially been appointed by Forest as the replacement for Sean Dyche who departed with the club sitting three points clear of the relegation zone.
This will be Pereira’s second game in charge of Forest following the impressive 3-0 win over Fenerbahce in their Europa League knockout phase play-off first-leg on Thursday.
Though it is a first opportunity to make an impression on the home supporters and the visit of Liverpool presents a tough baptism of fire for the Portuguese tactician.
Arne Slot’s side have recovered well since losing to Manchester City at home, beating Sunderland and then Brighton to seal a place in the FA Cup fifth round.
With the battle for Champions League qualification heating up, Slot and his players will know the importance of securing another positive result on the road.
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool is scheduled for a 2pm GMT kick-off on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
The match will take place at the City Ground.
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage starts at 1pm GMT on Sky Sports Main Event.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Pereira is expected to make changes to the side that started the Europa League clash in Turkey after revealing the entire Forest squad will play an important role between now and the end of the season.
Willy Boly, Matz Sels, Chris Wood and John Victor, however, will all miss out through injury.
Murillo returned from a knock to score in the win over Fenerbahce but Nicolo Savona is a doubt with a knee issue.
Liverpool, meanwhile, emerged from the 3-0 win over Brighton last week unscathed, though Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike are expected to return to the starting XI after being named on the bench for the FA Cup tie.
Slot does have a decision to make at right-back as the game comes too soon for Jeremie Frimpong who has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury. This could result in a start for Joe Gomez, unless Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones get the nod there.
Alexander Isak is expected to return towards the start of April, but Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni are longer-term absentees.

Hugo Ekitike is expected to lead the line for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest
AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool can take confidence from their 1-0 win over Sunderland last time out in the league and a similar test awaits on Sunday, facing a side likely to attempt to frustrate them for long periods.
Forest, playing at home for the first time under their new manager, will look to start fast but if Liverpool can weather the early storm then we expect them to leave the City Ground with all three points.
Liverpool to win, 2-1.
Nottingham Forest won the reverse fixture at Anfield 3-0 back in November and are now unbeaten against Liverpool in the last three meetings.
Nottingham Forest wins: 33
Liverpool wins: 60
Draws: 30
Nottingham Forest to win: 11/4
Liverpool to win: 8/11
Draw: 23/10
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
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