Liverpool Face Historic Double Threat at Nottingham Forest Under New Management

2026-02-22 community

Nottingham, 22 February 2026
Liverpool’s challenging away record at the City Ground faces its toughest test yet as they visit Nottingham Forest, who stunned the Reds 3-0 at Anfield in November and now boast their fourth manager this season in Vítor Pereira. The Portuguese coach has already guided Forest to a commanding 3-0 Europa League victory over Fenerbahçe, suggesting the ‘new manager bounce’ could prove decisive. With Liverpool historically winning just one of their last fifteen league visits to the City Ground and currently sitting sixth, three points behind Champions League qualification, this fixture represents a pivotal moment in both teams’ seasons as Forest battle relegation just three points above the drop zone.

Forest’s Managerial Revolution and Early Success

Vítor Pereira’s appointment as Nottingham Forest’s fourth manager this season represents an extraordinary level of upheaval at the City Ground [2][3]. The Portuguese tactician, who replaced Sean Dyche in the latest managerial change, has already demonstrated his impact with Forest’s commanding 3-0 victory over Fenerbahçe in the Europa League on 19 February 2026 [2][4]. Pereira’s modest assessment of his debut success reveals his pragmatic approach: ‘It was a win by the players - the quality of the players - and the support of the fans. It was not a manager win because I was only three days with them’ [4]. Despite the short preparation time, the new manager has instilled confidence in his squad, with captain Morgan Gibbs-White reflecting on the performance: ‘I felt like we had a real identity out there today. I think we defended incredibly and with the ball as well. We created so many chances, it could have been even more’ [3].

Liverpool’s Injury Concerns and Squad Adjustments

Arne Slot faces significant personnel challenges ahead of today’s crucial fixture, with several key players sidelined through injury. Jeremie Frimpong remains unavailable due to a muscle issue that has kept him out since last month’s Champions League tie against Qarabag at Anfield, though Slot expressed optimism about his return: ‘Jeremie will not be involved this weekend yet. We hope he will be involved next week [against West Ham United] if things go as planned’ [4]. More concerning is the long-term absence of Wataru Endo, who was stretchered off in Liverpool’s victory at Sunderland last week. Slot’s assessment was stark: ‘No, Wata will be out for a long time, as I said earlier. We don’t know exactly how long - but long’ [4]. However, there is positive news with Joe Gomez now ‘ready to start if required following his return from injury’ [4], providing Slot with additional defensive options. The injury list also includes long-term absentees Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak, and Giovanni Leoni [4][5].

The Historical and Current Context

Liverpool’s recent struggles at the City Ground are well-documented, having won just one of their last fifteen away league visits to Nottingham Forest [2]. This poor record was reinforced in their most recent encounter on 22 November 2025, when Forest secured a stunning 3-0 victory at Anfield [2]. The historical context adds weight to today’s challenge, particularly given Forest’s unbeaten record in their last three meetings with Liverpool [2]. Currently, the stakes could not be higher for both clubs. Liverpool occupy sixth position in the Premier League table, sitting three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and the crucial Champions League qualification spots [2][3]. Meanwhile, Forest find themselves in a precarious 17th position, just three points above the relegation zone [2][5], making every point vital in their survival battle.

Match Details and Broadcast Information

Today’s fixture kicks off at 14:00 GMT at the City Ground, with Anthony Taylor officiating and Paul Tierney serving as VAR [2][3]. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage beginning at 13:00 GMT [2][3]. Football fans worldwide can access the match through various international broadcasters, including USA Peacock, Australia Stan Sport, Canada Fubo Canada, India JioStar, and Middle East beIN Sports MENA [1]. For those facing geographical restrictions, VPN services such as ExpressVPN can provide access to different regional streams [1]. The betting markets reflect Liverpool’s favourites status, with Fox Sports giving them a 55.4% chance of victory based on moneyline odds of -124, while Forest are given just a 24.7% chance of securing three points [7]. The prediction from Fox Sports suggests a narrow 2-1 victory for Liverpool, with the over 2.5 goals market also recommended [7].

Bronnen

Premier League Liverpool