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Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Prediction: Key Matchups and Stats

Liverpool welcome Nottingham Forest to Anfield on 29 August 2026 in the Premier League, with both sides looking to shape the tone of their early campaign. Anfield remains one of the most intimidating venues in England, and this will be Liverpool’s first home league outing of the new season after opening with a draw on the road.

From a standings perspective, Liverpool sit 10th with 1 point after a 2-2 away draw, while Nottingham Forest are 15th with no points following a 0-1 home defeat. For Liverpool, this fixture is an opportunity to convert attacking promise into three points and avoid an early gap opening to the leading pack. Forest, meanwhile, are under pressure to respond quickly after failing to score in their opener and now face a daunting away trip.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Key Stats

  • Liverpool are 10th with 1 point, scoring and conceding 2 goals across their first Premier League match of 2026.
  • The last meeting between these sides on 22 February 2026 at City Ground ended Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool in the Premier League.
  • In 2026 Premier League statistics so far, Liverpool average 2.0 goals scored and 2.0 conceded per match, while Nottingham Forest average 0.0 scored and 1.0 conceded.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Tale of the Tape

  • Position: 10 vs 15
  • Points: 1 vs 0
  • Goals For: 2 vs 0
  • Goals Against: 2 vs 1
  • Clean Sheets: 0 vs 0 (2026 Premier League statistics)

Early in the Premier League table, Liverpool’s draw leaves them mid-pack but with clear attacking output: 2 goals scored away from home suggests they can create chances, though conceding 2 points to defensive vulnerabilities that still need ironing out. Nottingham Forest’s opening defeat, a 0-1 loss at home, underlines a more cautious but blunt start, with no goals scored and a narrow margin of defeat.

Over one match each, Liverpool’s numbers point to a more expansive profile, with a 2.0 goals-per-game attack balanced by a defense that has also allowed 2.0 per match. Forest, by contrast, have yet to find the net and have conceded just once, but their inability to score and a failure to keep a clean sheet leaves them under pressure heading into Anfield. With Liverpool now at home for the first time this campaign, the expectation will be on the hosts to impose themselves.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Key Matchups

R. Gravenberch vs O. Aina

Ryan Gravenberch is one of Liverpool’s early creative hubs in the 2026 Premier League. In his single appearance so far, he has provided 1 assist in 78 minutes, completed 47 passes with an impressive 91% accuracy, and delivered 1 key pass. His work out of possession has also been solid, with 1 tackle and 2 interceptions, underlining his box-to-box influence. If Liverpool are to break down Forest’s structure, Gravenberch’s ability to progress the ball and link midfield to attack will be central.

Opposite him, Ola Aina has been a standout figure for Nottingham Forest in their early data. Operating as a midfielder, he has 1 appearance with 74 minutes played, and while he has not yet scored or assisted, he has been heavily involved: 26 passes, 3 key passes, and 1 shot on target. He also shows strong physical output with 11 duels contested and 5 won, plus 5 dribble attempts with 3 successful. However, he has already picked up 1 yellow card, so discipline will be crucial at Anfield. The duel between Gravenberch’s technical quality and Aina’s energy and ball-carrying could define the midfield battle.

Jair vs Liverpool Attackers

Jair, a 20-year-old defender for Nottingham Forest, has started the season as a key component of their back line. In his 90 minutes so far, he has contributed 42 passes at 88% accuracy, made 2 tackles, 2 blocks, and 1 interception, and engaged in 11 duels, winning 4. Those numbers point to a proactive defender who steps into challenges and reads danger well. He has also received 1 yellow card, reflecting his aggressive approach.

Up against Liverpool’s array of forwards and attacking midfielders at Anfield, Jair’s positioning and timing will be severely tested. With Liverpool having already scored twice in their only league game and boasting multiple attacking options in the squad list (from wide forwards like F. Chiesa to central threats like A. Isak and C. Gakpo), Forest will rely on Jair to anchor a likely back three or four and limit clear chances. If he can maintain his defensive interventions without disciplinary issues, Forest’s chances of frustrating Liverpool improve significantly.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

The recent head-to-head record between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest has been competitive, with both sides enjoying notable wins in the Premier League era. Anfield and City Ground have each hosted tight, low-scoring contests as well as more open encounters.

  • 22 February 2026: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
  • 22 November 2025: Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
  • 14 January 2025: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
  • 14 September 2024: Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
  • 2 March 2024: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Prediction

Stats suggest a nuanced matchup. Liverpool are tipped as the winner in the prediction model, yet the win probabilities are relatively balanced: around 35% for a home win, 35% for a draw, and 30% for an away win. That spread reflects Forest’s recent ability to take results at Anfield, including a 0-3 away win in November 2025 and a 0-1 victory in September 2024. Liverpool cannot take this fixture lightly.

From a form perspective, Liverpool’s current Premier League run in 2026 is a single draw, but with 2 goals scored and 2 conceded, indicating both attacking threat and defensive fragility. Forest, on the other hand, have started with a defeat and no goals scored, plus a record of failing to score in their only match and no clean sheets. Over the last head-to-head meetings, the margins have often been tight, with four of the last five league encounters decided by a single goal. Given Liverpool’s first home game, their superior attacking profile, and Forest’s early struggles in front of goal, a narrow Liverpool win looks the likeliest outcome.

Predicted Score: Liverpool 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Liverpool Recent Form

Liverpool’s recent Premier League form in 2026 is a solitary draw, reflecting a mixed start: they have shown attacking potency with 2 goals scored away from home but also conceded 2. Their tournament statistics show no clean sheets and no failures to score so far, underlining a high-event style. In the last five-match snapshot provided, Liverpool’s attack index is relatively low while their defensive index is high, suggesting that despite the 2-2 opener, they are generally structured at the back but still calibrating their forward output.

Nottingham Forest Recent Form

Nottingham Forest’s 2026 Premier League campaign has begun with a loss and a blank in front of goal. Their form string is a single defeat, and tournament statistics show 0.0 goals scored per match and 1.0 conceded. They have failed to score in their only fixture and have not kept a clean sheet. In their last-five snapshot, Forest’s attack index is minimal, while their defensive index is relatively strong, hinting at a side that can stay in games but struggles to create and convert chances.

Liverpool Possible Starting Lineup

With no confirmed lineups for this specific fixture, we can only highlight key options from Liverpool’s squad rather than a definitive XI. In goal, Alisson Becker is the standout choice, supported by options such as G. Mamardashvili and F. Woodman. Defensively, Liverpool can call on V. van Dijk, J. Gomez, M. Kerkez, K. Tsimikas, J. Frimpong, and R. Araújo among others, giving them depth across both central and full-back positions.

In midfield, the likes of A. Mac Allister, W. Endo, R. Gravenberch, D. Szoboszlai, C. Jones, and F. Wirtz provide a blend of control, creativity, and work rate. In attack, options include F. Chiesa, A. Isak, C. Gakpo, H. Ekitike, L. Koumas, and other young forwards. Recent statistics indicate Liverpool have used a 4-2-3-1 formation in their single 2026 league match, which suits their squad composition: a double pivot in midfield, three advanced creators, and a central striker. Expect a similar shape, with Gravenberch likely to feature prominently given his early assist and passing influence.

Nottingham Forest Possible Starting Lineup

Nottingham Forest’s squad offers a mix of experience and youth. In goal, options include M. Sels, S. Benda, and John. Defensively, they can deploy Jair, O. Diomande, N. Milenković, Morato, Murillo, L. Netz, O. Richards, and others, allowing for either a back three or four. Their 2026 statistics show they have used a 3-4-2-1 formation in their opening match, which aligns with the number of centre-backs and wing-back profiles in the squad.

In midfield, Forest can turn to O. Aina, N. Williams, N. Domínguez, I. Sangaré, X. Schlager, R. Yates, and J. McAtee, offering energy, ball-winning, and some creativity. In attack, M. Gibbs-White, C. Hudson-Odoi, T. Awoniyi, D. Bakwa, O. Hutchinson, Igor Jesus, A. Kalimuendo, D. Ndoye, and C. Wood provide multiple options across the front line. The likely continuation of a 3-4-2-1 setup would see Jair and other central defenders tasked with absorbing Liverpool pressure, while players like Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi look to exploit transitions.

Liverpool Team News

No significant absences reported.

Nottingham Forest Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

Liverpool:

  • None reported.

Nottingham Forest:

  • None reported.

Betting Tips: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

Below are three data-backed betting angles for this Premier League clash:

  • Result Tip: Back Liverpool to win. The prediction model edges Liverpool as the expected winner, and the market strongly agrees: home odds range from 1.42 to 1.54, implying roughly a 64.9% to 70.4% chance of a Liverpool victory ((1 ÷ 1.54) × 100% to (1 ÷ 1.42) × 100%). Forest’s away odds between 5.51 and 6.55 translate to about 15.3% to 18.1%, underlining Liverpool as clear favourites at Anfield.
  • Goals Tip: Liverpool to score at least 2 goals. Liverpool average 2.0 goals per game in 2026 league play, while Forest concede 1.0 per match and have yet to score. Recent head-to-heads at Anfield have included a 3-0 Liverpool win in October 2023 and a 3-2 home victory in April 2022, showing that this fixture can produce goals. While specific over/under odds are not listed here, the strong home-win pricing and Liverpool’s attacking options support a pro-Liverpool goals angle.
  • Value Tip: Consider a card-related or player-performance angle involving O. Aina. He has already received 1 yellow card in his single 2026 appearance and is heavily involved in duels and dribbles, increasing his risk of further bookings. With Forest priced between 5.51 and 6.55 to win, the market expects them to be under pressure, which often correlates with more defensive actions and potential fouls. While exact card or player prop odds are not provided, this profile suggests potential value in Aina-related disciplinary or defensive-stat markets where available.

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.

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