Liverpool Aim to Reset Against Nottingham Forest at Anfield
Andoni Iraola walks into Anfield for his first competitive home game as Liverpool manager with the noise already building around him. One match into the Premier League season and the questions have started.
A 2-2 draw at Newcastle United on the opening weekend exposed familiar faults. Liverpool’s attack flickered rather than roared, their defence looked disjointed, and the old accusation resurfaced: not enough intensity, not enough control.
Yet the numbers told a different story. Liverpool generated an xG of 3.13 at St James’ Park, the second-highest of any side in the league’s opening round. Chances came, and plenty of them. The problem was what happened at the other end – and what they allowed Newcastle to do in transition.
Selection Tightrope for Iraola
The new manager is unlikely to be rescued by the transfer market in time for Nottingham Forest’s visit. The £100 million move for Bradley Barcola is not expected to be completed before the weekend, so Iraola will almost certainly lean on the same core that started at Newcastle.
That raises questions in midfield and out wide. Rio Ngumoha and Florian Wirtz both made way in the 63rd minute last Sunday, and they are vulnerable to the reshuffle. Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz are pushing hard to come into the XI, offering more control in possession and a bit more bite without the ball.
On the right flank of the defence, Jeremie Frimpong has become an early lightning rod. His display at St James’ Park drew heavy criticism, particularly for his positioning and decision-making. Iraola, though, does not have a wealth of alternatives at right back, so the Dutchman may get another chance to steady himself in front of an Anfield crowd that will not be shy in its verdict.
Whatever the final line-up, one thing is non-negotiable: Liverpool cannot afford a repeat of last season’s 3-0 home defeat to Forest. That result still lingers, a warning of what happens when standards dip and belief drains away.
Forest Arrive Under Pressure and Under Strength
Forest arrive with a new man in the dugout and old problems on the pitch. Oliver Glasner, a manager with an FA Cup, Conference League and Charity Shield on his CV, took charge in the summer and was supposed to sharpen a side that flirted with trouble too often.
Instead, his reign has started with back-to-back defeats to Leeds United, both at the City Ground. Leeds pinched a 1-0 win in the Premier League opener, then returned three days later in the League Cup and left with a 2-0 victory. Same stadium, same opponent, same outcome. Forest looked blunt and brittle.
Glasner has already moved to cool any sense that he alone can transform the club, insisting he is “no messiah.” The message is clear: this rebuild will take time, and the squad has its limits.
Those limits are being stretched by injuries. Ryan Yates and Nicola Savona are both sidelined, stripping Forest of energy and steel in key areas. Heading to Anfield on the back of two home defeats, with a patched-up side, is hardly the ideal scenario for a manager still learning his players.
Injuries Bite, but Liverpool’s Defence Shows Signs of Life
Liverpool’s medical bulletin is hardly empty either. Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley remain several weeks away from returning, reducing Iraola’s options in attack and at full-back. At centre-back, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez are also unavailable, leaving the manager to lean on his summer recruits.
The good news for Liverpool is that Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo handled themselves well at St James’ Park. Both delivered solid, unfussy performances that hinted at a more stable defensive platform than last season, when injuries repeatedly shredded the back line and forced constant reshuffles.
If that pairing holds together, Liverpool’s defensive issues may not feel as suffocating as they did in the previous campaign. The structure in front of them, though, still needs work.
Anfield Demands a Response
This match is about more than three points. A clean sheet and a front line that looks ruthless rather than wasteful would go a long way to calming the early-season anxiety around Iraola’s Liverpool.
The bookmakers still see a clear favourite. bet365 price Liverpool at 11/20 (1.55) to win, with Forest out at 19/4 (5.75). The numbers reflect the gulf in expectation – and the pressure on the home side to deliver.
Anfield will not settle for another false start. After a week of questions, this is Iraola’s first real chance to provide an answer.
