Arne Slot set to hit Premier League milestone as Liverpool face Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

Liverpool eye key landmarks as Slot’s 50th game coincides with Nottingham Forest test

Liverpool return to Anfield on Saturday with a notable marker on the horizon: Slot’s 50th game in charge in the Premier League. His early tenure has been characterised by assertive football, measured rotation and an ability to navigate tense fixtures with composure. Across his first 49 league matches he has delivered 31 wins, nine draws and nine defeats – a strong platform as he approaches a milestone that carries significance internally as much as statistically.

The meeting with Nottingham Forest also signals the restart of Liverpool’s campaign following the international break, with supporters eager to see renewed momentum against a side seeking stability after a turbulent opening to the season.

Historic trends shaping Liverpool v Nottingham Forest

There is a deep history to this fixture, and the numbers ahead of Saturday show a mixture of reassurance and caution for the home side. Since 1952, Liverpool have lost only once in 15 matches played on 22 November – that solitary defeat arriving in 1997 against Barnsley.

Yet Forest caused frustration last season. Their 1-0 victory at Anfield was the only league fixture in which Liverpool failed to score across the entire 2024-25 campaign. A repeat setback would be unprecedented in more than six decades, with Forest not having claimed consecutive league wins at Anfield since 1963.

The reverse meeting last term produced a 1-1 draw, and Forest are now looking to avoid defeat in three straight league games against Liverpool for the first time since February 1993.

Away form adds further intrigue. Forest are one of only four sides yet to win on their travels in the league this season. Their last two away matches ended in defeat without scoring, and another goalless loss would mark their worst run in over two years. Their record against reigning champions is stark: six consecutive away defeats with a combined score of 24-2, having last won such a fixture in 1994.

Liverpool landmarks and emerging storylines

This match also carries personal significance for several Liverpool players. Mohamed Salah is poised for his 300th Premier League appearance for the club – an elite threshold previously reached only by Carragher, Gerrard, Henderson and Hyypiä. His 276 goal involvements in the league (188 goals and 88 assists) equal the highest ever for a single Premier League club, matching Rooney’s tally at Manchester United.

Ryan Gravenberch could also reach a milestone with his 100th appearance in all competitions for Liverpool, further underlining his progression since arriving at Anfield.

Alexander Isak, meanwhile, enters the fixture with an imposing record against Forest, having produced six goals and two assists in just four Premier League meetings.

Forest’s revival under Dyche

Forest’s recent improvement under Dyche adds a layer of unpredictability. Appointed on 21 October, he has overseen two wins, two draws and a single defeat in his opening five matches. Forest’s scoring output has notably increased too – five goals in their last three league games, equalling the total from their opening eight matches combined under Nuno Espirito Santo and Postecoglou.

Dyche’s historical record against Liverpool, however, provides a reminder of the challenge ahead. Only Manchester City and Arsenal have inflicted more league defeats upon him than Liverpool.

As Slot prepares for his landmark match, Liverpool will aim to reinforce their formidable 3pm Anfield record – just one defeat in their last 39 such fixtures. Yet that one loss did indeed come against Forest last September, ensuring this encounter carries a sense of unfinished business.