MatchThe opposition lowdown: Nottingham Forest

Season so far

Vitor Pereira will take charge of his first league match as Forest's head coach.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss, who replaced Sean Dyche, began his reign on Thursday night with a 3-0 win at Fenerbahce in the first leg of a Europa League knockout play-off.

Forest entered the weekend occupying 17th place in the Premier League standings and three points above the relegation zone.

They are winless in their last three top-flight matches but were victorious 2-0 away at Brentford before that run.

Key players

Morgan Gibbs-White has appeared in all but one of Forest's fixtures in all competitions this season.

The attacking midfielder has contributed with eight goals and five assists from his 36 outings.

Striker Igor Jesus, a summer arrival from Botafogo, is the team's top scorer thus far with 12 goals.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool full-back Neco Williams has started 25 of their 26 Premier League matches this season, only missing the one due to suspension.

Team news

Willy Boly, Nicolo Savona, Matz Sels, John Victor and Chris Wood have been on the sidelines for Forest.

"We need to rest, because it is a very short time," Pereira said of the quick turnaround between winning in Turkiye and hosting the Reds.

Previous meetings

Liverpool were beaten 3-0 in the reverse fixture at Anfield in November after Murillo's opener was followed by efforts from Savona and Gibbs-White during the second half.

Their most recent visit to the City Ground, in early 2025, ended in a 1-1 draw.

Diogo Jota made an instant impact off the bench in the 66th minute to equalise an early Wood finish.

What they said

Pereira, Forest head coach

"A tough game against the previous champions in England, but as I say to my players, we need to play with our tools, we need to play with our identity. We need to create identity, it must be what we like and believe.

"We have started to work since the first day to create identity. To know what to defend and attack as a team.

"Football for me, we need to play as a team and with a true spirit. We need to play with organisation, that allows the players to express themselves."

Pre-match stats

• Forest are looking to complete their first league double over Liverpool since 1962-63.
• Their last six bosses have lost their opening Premier League match at the club, with Dave Bassett the last to avoid that fate in March 1997.
• Forest have drawn each of their last three home league games. They last had four consecutive draws at the City Ground in November/December 1998.
• Two of their last five Premier League fixtures have finished 0-0, as many goalless draws as in their previous 124 games in the competition.