Nottingham Forest's Quest for Points at Anfield
Nottingham Forest head to Anfield on Saturday still hunting their first points of the new Premier League season, but they arrive with one precious asset: recent memories of winning there.
Oliver Glasner’s side opened their campaign with defeat to Leeds United, then slipped out of the Carabao Cup days later. Two games, two losses, no momentum. Yet Forest have triumphed on each of their last two visits to Anfield, a rare streak that offers a sliver of belief against one of the division’s most unforgiving away days.
Forest’s fitness picture and selection calls
Glasner’s options are not yet at full strength. Nicolo Savona and Ryan Yates remain out injured and will not feature on Merseyside. That removes two potential midfield options from an area already undergoing a reshuffle.
The rebuilding job at the City Ground has been no secret. Glasner has spoken openly about trying to accelerate understanding within a group still learning his demands, while facing teams whose cores have been together for years. The contrast is stark; the expectation is not.
There were, however, some encouraging signs in midweek. Summer arrivals Ousmane Diomande and Xaver Schlager both made their full debuts in the Carabao Cup and did enough to keep the conversation going about their roles. Both are pushing hard to stay in the XI for Anfield, and the shape of the side suggests they will.
Glasner is expected to stick with a back three of Murillo, Nikola Milenković and Diomande, a combination that offers aggression on the front foot and height against Liverpool’s set-piece threat. Ahead of them, a hard-running midfield four should provide the shield: Ola Aina on one flank, Neco Williams on the other, with Ibrahim Sangaré and Schlager patrolling the centre.
That platform is designed to free the creative heartbeat. Morgan Gibbs-White, who has either scored or assisted in half of Forest’s last six games at Anfield, is set to take up his familiar role in the pocket. He will likely operate just behind Igor Jesus, with Dan Ndoye offering legs and direct running alongside him. If Forest are to extend their unlikely Anfield run, Gibbs-White’s influence will almost certainly be central.
Predicted Nottingham Forest XI
Nottingham Forest possible starting XI (3-4-2-1): Sels; Murillo, Milenković, Diomande; Aina, Sangaré, Schlager, Williams; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Igor Jesus.
Kick-off time and TV details
The Premier League clash at Anfield kicks off at 12:30 on Saturday, 29 August 2026.
In the UK, the match will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.
Forest arrive wounded, still searching for rhythm, but carrying the knowledge that they have walked into Anfield twice recently and walked out with wins. Whether that history fuels another upset or simply stirs Liverpool into a response will shape the early narrative of their season.
