Predicted XI & 3 Keys To Victory vs. Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Predicted XI & 3 Keys to Victory
Liverpool face a tough test at Nottingham Forest's City Ground on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 2pm GMT, as Arne Slot's side aims to maintain their push for Champions League qualification. The match, broadcast live on Sky Sports, pits the Reds against new Forest boss Vitor Pereira in his first Premier League home game.[1][2][3]
Liverpool Team News & Predicted XI
Slot confirmed right-back Jeremie Frimpong is out with a groin injury sustained against Qarabag, missing his fourth straight game but expected back for West Ham next week. Wataru Endo faces a lengthy absence after injury against Sunderland. Other absentees include Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Alexander Isak. Joe Gomez is ready to start at right-back, potentially shifting Dominik Szoboszlai, while Hugo Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch are tipped to return.[1][4][5]
Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Szoboszlai, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike; Gakpo.[1]
Nottingham Forest Team News & Predicted XI
Forest, three points above relegation under Pereira (replacing Sean Dyche), boast momentum from a 3-0 Europa League win over Fenerbahce. Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White scored there and at Anfield earlier this season, eyeing rare history. Injuries sideline Willy Boly, Chris Wood, John Victor, and Nicolo Savona (doubt), with Matz Sels out. Expect an unchanged side featuring Igor Jesus.[2][3]
Predicted Forest XI (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus.[2]
3 Keys to Liverpool Victory
- Manage Early Pressure: Forest will start aggressively at home; Liverpool's ball control can neutralize this.[3]
- Exploit Right-Back Chaos: With Frimpong out, Gomez must solidify defense while attackers like Salah target transitions.[1][4]
- Clinical Finishing: Ekitike and Gakpo need to convert chances against a resilient Forest backline led by Murillo.[6][7]
Predictions favor Liverpool: 2-1 or 1-3 wins, reversing their earlier 3-0 Anfield loss.[3][6][7] Dropped points could hurt top-four hopes amid rivals' fixtures.
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