Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool Preview: New Era at the City Ground
Nottingham Forest enters a new chapter this Sunday as they host Liverpool under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Vítor Pereira. The former Wolves boss made a dream start to his tenure with a convincing 3-0 win over Fenerbahçe in the Europa League mid-week. Now, he faces a “baptism of fire” in his first home game against an elite Liverpool side fighting for a top-four finish.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool have found their rhythm again, following up a crucial league win over Sunderland with an FA Cup triumph against Brighton. With the Champions League race intensifying, the Reds know that only three points will suffice at the City Ground.
Match Logistics
| Category | Details |
| Fixture | Nottingham Forest vs. Liverpool |
| Competition | English Premier League |
| Date | Sunday, February 22, 2026 |
| Kick-off Time | 2:00 PM GMT (London Time) |
| Venue | The City Ground, Nottingham |
| UK Coverage | Sky Sports Main Event |
Team News
Nottingham Forest:
Vítor Pereira may rotate his squad following their European travels. The hosts are dealing with several injuries: Willy Boly, Matz Sels, Chris Wood, and John Victor are all ruled out. While Murillo is fit after his goal in Turkey, Nicolò Savona remains a doubt with a knee injury.
Liverpool:
The Reds are expected to welcome back Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitiké to the starting lineup. However, Arne Slot faces a dilemma at right-back; Jeremie Frimpong is still sidelined with a hamstring issue. Joe Gomez is the likely candidate to start, as Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak remain long-term absentees.
Historical Performance & Betting Odds
Forest shocked Liverpool with a 3-0 win at Anfield earlier this season and currently enjoy a three-match unbeaten streak against the Reds. However, the bookmakers still favor the visitors to break that run.
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Liverpool Win: 8/11
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Nottingham Forest Win: 11/4
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Draw: 23/10
Expert Prediction
The “new manager bounce” is clearly visible at Forest, but the physical exertion of their trip to Turkey might play a role here. Liverpool’s refreshed squad, having had a full week to prepare, should have enough quality to overcome a stubborn Forest defense.
Final Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Liverpool.
