Nottingham Forest have won on each of their last two Premier League visits to Anfield, which should be enough to stop anyone treating Saturday’s early kick-off as a routine Liverpool home win.

Forest stunned Liverpool 1-0 on Merseyside in 2024 before returning last November and winning 3-0, while the Reds needed a 97th-minute Alexis Mac Allister goal to finally get the better of them at the City Ground in February.

Andoni Iraola’s first league game in charge also offered Forest some encouragement. Liverpool needed a 99th-minute Dominik Szoboszlai penalty to rescue a 2-2 draw at Newcastle after twice falling behind, with Anthony Elanga’s early opener exposing the sort of space Iraola will want to remove quickly.

Cody Gakpo scored Liverpool’s first goal and was one of their sharper attackers, but Alexander Isak endured a quieter return to St James’ Park and Mac Allister only featured from the bench after a disrupted build-up.

Nottingham Forest have much bigger problems of their own after losing 1-0 to Leeds in the Premier League and then 2-0 to the same opponents in the Carabao Cup three days later. Oliver Glasner has admitted his new side are still well short of where he wants them to be, and they head to Anfield without a competitive goal this season.

The arrival of Liam Delap at least gives Forest a new focal point after completing a club-record deal worth up to £50m. The 23-year-old scored 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich before enduring a difficult season at Chelsea, with Forest eventually winning a race that had also involved Leeds United and Everton for the striker.

Morgan Gibbs-White could also return from the knee problem that kept him out of the cup defeat, giving Glasner some much-needed creativity around his new number nine.

Liverpool should have enough to win at home, but Forest’s recent record in this fixture and the problems Iraola’s side showed without the ball at Newcastle make the short price on a straightforward home victory easy to leave alone.

What are the best picks for Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest?

Liverpool to win and both teams to score

Liverpool are strong favourites for good reason, but combining a home win with both teams to score gives us a much more interesting route into the game.

Iraola’s side created plenty at Newcastle, finishing with 26 attempts and 60% possession, while Gakpo’s equaliser came during a second half in which Liverpool increasingly pushed the hosts towards their own goal.

The concern is what happens when possession turns over. Newcastle scored inside five minutes through a quick transition and restored their lead almost immediately after Gakpo had levelled, with Iraola still searching for the balance between committing players forward and protecting his defence.

Forest have failed to score in their opening two games, but Delap changes the profile of their attack. He gives Glasner a physical presence capable of occupying Liverpool’s centre-backs, while a fit Gibbs-White should provide far better service than Forest managed against Leeds.

Liverpool should create enough against a side still adapting to Glasner’s 3-4-2-1, but backing them to win without conceding looks considerably less convincing.

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Cody Gakpo to score anytime

Gakpo looked the Liverpool attacker most likely to make something happen at Newcastle and started the campaign with a well-taken goal after finding space inside the penalty area.

His position from the left could suit him again here. Neco Williams is a major doubt after taking a knock against Leeds, while Glasner asks his wing-backs to get forward and support attacks, potentially leaving space around the outside centre-backs when Forest lose possession.

Isak remains the obvious favourite in the goalscorer markets, but his first competitive start of the season produced very little against his former club and he is still working his way back towards the sharpness that made him so prolific at Newcastle.

Gakpo is available at around 2/1 with some bookmakers, which looks the more attractive route given that he is already off the mark and should again get opportunities from Liverpool’s left side.

Where can I watch Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest?

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest kicks off at 12:30 PM BST on Saturday, August 29 at Anfield.

The game will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.

What have the managers said?

Andoni Iraola:

Iraola was encouraged by the way Liverpool kept pushing at Newcastle despite falling behind twice.

“Scoring at the end probably gives you a better taste and I’m obviously happy we’ve recovered one point.”

Oliver Glasner:

Glasner made no attempt to disguise Forest’s early problems after Tuesday’s second defeat to Leeds.

“Right now, we are far away from where we want to be.”

What is Liverpool’s predicted team?

Starting XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.

Injured: Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni.

Mac Allister should be pushing to start after returning from the bench at Newcastle, while Jeremy Jacquet could retain his place alongside Virgil van Dijk after making his competitive debut at St James’ Park.

What is Nottingham Forest’s predicted team?

Starting XI: Sels; Diomande, Milenkovic, Murillo; Aina, Schlager, Sangare, Netz; Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus; Delap.

Doubts: Morgan Gibbs-White, Ryan Yates, Neco Williams.

Injured: Nicolo Savona.

Delap is in contention to make his debut following his move from Chelsea, while Gibbs-White will need to prove his fitness after missing the Carabao Cup defeat to Leeds.

Score prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Forest’s recent Anfield record deserves respect, but they arrive with a new manager, no goals and two defeats already behind them.

Liverpool remain a work in progress themselves, particularly when opponents break through their midfield, but their attacking quality and home advantage should be enough to edge a game in which Forest can still cause problems.

Keep an eye on our Liverpool betting tips and match previews and Nottingham Forest betting tips throughout the season.

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