Liverpool Seek First League Win Against Nottingham Forest
Anfield wakes up to Premier League football again on Saturday lunchtime, and Liverpool arrive still looking for their first league victory under Andoni Iraola.
A frantic 2-2 draw at Newcastle opened their campaign – a stoppage-time penalty salvaging a point but doing nothing to quiet the questions around a new era on Merseyside. Now comes Nottingham Forest, beaten by Leeds United in their own opener but with just enough recent joy at this ground to believe they can cause trouble.
Liverpool’s injury list and selection calls
Iraola’s options are already stretched.
Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitiké, Joe Gomez, Jayden Danns and Giovanni Leoni are all ruled out through injury. Curtis Jones is battling a groin problem and remains a doubt, leaving Liverpool’s midfield balance and bench depth under scrutiny before a ball is kicked.
The headline name of the week, Bradley Barcola, is unlikely to be more than a talking point rather than a participant. The winger is closing in on a £120 million move from Paris Saint-Germain, but even if the paperwork lands in time, his debut is expected to wait until next week’s trip to Ipswich Town. Liverpool’s rebuild will have to take another step without him.
One new face who has already made an impact is Victor Muñoz. Thrown on at Newcastle, he earned the stoppage-time penalty that rescued Liverpool’s point and instantly pushed himself into the conversation for a starting role. His energy and directness offered something different – and Iraola has noticed.
At the back, change is coming. Jérémy Jacquet is in line to continue alongside Virgil van Dijk, with the manager expected to tweak his back four as he searches for a more settled defensive platform. Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez are set to provide the width from full-back in a system that demands they attack as much as they defend.
Further forward, the battle for the No.10 and wide roles is sharpening. Muñoz’s cameo has put pressure on 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who actually turns 18 on the day of the game. The teenager started at Newcastle but may find himself watching the first whistle this time, with Iraola tempted to lean on the Spaniard’s maturity and impact.
Cody Gakpo, though, looks secure. He scored in the draw at St James’ Park and is expected to keep his place off the left despite ongoing transfer noise linking him with Tottenham and Manchester City. For now, he remains central to Iraola’s attacking plan.
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai are set to stay in tandem as the double pivot, trusted to control the tempo and feed the creative line behind the striker.
And that striker role belongs to Alexander Isak. Built around his movement and finishing, Liverpool’s attack will again revolve around the Swede’s ability to stretch Forest’s defence and turn half-chances into goals.
Predicted Liverpool XI
Liverpool are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1:
Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Muñoz, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
It’s a side that blends established leaders with players still learning the demands of Anfield. The question is whether that mix can click quickly enough to deliver Iraola his first Premier League win.
Forest’s challenge and the stage
Nottingham Forest come into this having been turned over by Leeds United in their opener, but their recent visits to Anfield have not been the lost causes they once were. There is enough evidence to suggest they can make this awkward if Liverpool start slowly or leave the door open at the back again.
Kick-off is at 12:30 on Saturday, 29 August 2026, with the game shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.
A new manager, a restless fanbase, a heavyweight transfer about to land, and an opponent with nothing to lose. For Liverpool, this can’t just be another chapter in a transition story. It has to be the day Iraola’s Anfield era actually starts to look like a winning one.
