Confirmed Lineups: Ekitiké & Gravenberch Return vs Nottingham Forest

Liverpool face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in a crucial Premier League clash on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The Reds, sitting 6th with 42 points, aim to climb the table against 17th-placed Forest (27 points). Both teams confirmed their starting lineups, highlighting key returns and injury adjustments under managers Nuno Espírito Santo and Arne Slot.[1][2]

Nottingham Forest Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

Stefan Ortega continues in goal due to injuries to Matz Sels and John Victor. Defenders Ola Aina, Nikola Milenković, Murillo, and Neco Williams form the backline, with Nicolò Savona and Willy Boly sidelined. Midfield duo Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangaré anchor, supporting Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Omari Hutchinson. Up front, Igor Jesus leads, ahead of Taiwo Awoniyi and Lorenzo Lucca, as Chris Wood remains absent. Forest recently beat Fenerbahce 3-0 in Europa League action.[1][2][3]

• Lineup: Ortega; Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangaré; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
• Subs: Gunn, Morato, Ndoye, Dominguez, Lucca, Yates, Jair Cunha, McAtee, Bakwa

Liverpool Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

Alisson Becker guards the net. Dominik Szoboszlai starts at right-back after suspension, shifting from midfield, with Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk central, and Milos Kerkez at left-back. Ryan Gravenberch returns in midfield alongside Alexis Mac Allister. Attack features Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, and Hugo Ekitiké up top. Absences include Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong (groin), and Wataru Endo (long-term). Curtis Jones drops to the bench after FA Cup heroics in a 3-0 win over Brighton.[1][2][6]

• Lineup: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitiké
• Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha

Kick-off at 2 PM GMT. Liverpool seek momentum post-FA Cup progress; Forest eye upset after European success. Predictions favor the Reds' firepower.[1][3]