Liverpool Vs Nottingham Forest: The Reds Kian Fragih, Forest Datang Untuk Mengeceu Di Anfield

JAKARTA - Liverpool will host Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday 22 November with an atmosphere that makes Reds fans a bit anxious. The Arne Slot team is still shaky after being slaughtered by Manchester City, while Sean Dyche's version of Forest looks even more solid and confident, like the team that has just found a 'hardcore' mode and turns out to be suitable.

Liverpool came from a 3-0 defeat at Etihad. Virgil van Dijk's annulled goal did spark a long debate, but Liverpool's overall performance was not worth bringing home anything. Jeremy Doku seemed to be holding a cheat code, littering Liverpool's defense and perfecting the score after Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez scored a goal that had helped deflection.

The defeat left Liverpool eight points behind Arsenal and slowly eliminated from the talks of champions. Mathematically, they are now close to the relegation zone as they are close to leaders of the standings. The only oase was Anfield, where Slot won four wins from five Premier League home games this season. Liverpool have not failed to score in their own home for more than a year.

But Anfield public knows one important exception: Forest. September 2024, Forest came and blunted Liverpool. Now they are back with a capital of three matches unbeaten and only lost once in five games in all competitions.

Forest has just won 3-1 over Leeds United through goals from Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Elliot Anderson. Although Dyche is synonymous with low blocks and direct games, Forest statistics are actually increasing: more shots per game and Expected Goals records are higher than when Ange Postecoglou and Nuno Esp Sacrito Santo trained. Is this the effect of a new coach or does he click tactics? Still need evidence.

What is clear, last season Forest took four points from two meetings against Liverpool. If this time they could go home with another positive result, it would be the first record since 1993, when only three players from their current squad were born.

Liverpool can smile a little because Alisson Becker is predicted to return after recovering from a hamstring injury. With the return of the main goalkeeper, only Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni are still absent. Alexander Isak is also conditionally safe and ready to shift Hugo Ekitike back in front lines. Mohamed Salah will record the 300th Premier League match, a milestone that comes amid the team's performance turbulence.

Forest is not that lucky. Chris Wood, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Dilane Bakwa, and Callum Hudson-Odoi are still doubtful. Meanwhile, Ola Aina, Douglas Luiz, and Angus Gunn are definitely absent. If Wood can't go down, Taiwo Awoniyi, Arnaud Kalimuendo, or Igor Jesus is ready to replace him as man's target in attack.

With direct play, Dyche's defensive discipline, and an increase in Forest attacks, Liverpool can experience an emotional draining afternoon. The international break did give Slot time to improve the situation, but the consistency of the Reds was far from ideal. Forest has enough structure, courage, and momentum itself to make Anfield restless again and steal a point.

Estimated line-up:Liverpool: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; IsakNottingham Forest: Sels; Savona, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Awoniyi

Liverpool Prediction 1-1 Nottingham Forest