Neco Williams could be suspended for Nottingham Forest's clash with Liverpool.placeholder image
Neco Williams could be suspended for Nottingham Forest's clash with Liverpool. | Getty Images
This Nottingham Forest star could be absent when Sean Dyche’s struggling side travel to Anfield
As the season reaches November time, the time for adaptation is over and Arne Slot’s Liverpool will hope to kick on in the Premier League.
Victory over Aston Villa stopped the rot of four successive Premier League defeats, and a trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City looms in what is almost as tough a test as you can get. The result that day will no doubt go a long way to indicating which club are best-placed to challenge leaders Arsenal for the league title this season.
Nottingham Forest are next to visit the Reds on Merseyside, but the Tricky Trees might be without a key man due to an often-forgotten Premier League rule.
Neco Williams might miss Liverpool reunion due to yellow cards rule
Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams might not be available to feature against former club Liverpool when the two sides meet on November 22 after the international break, due to the Premier League’s disciplinary rules surrounding yellow cards.
The 24-year-old Wales international has already picked up four bookings so far this season, the joint-second most in the division, and will be suspended for one match if he picks up another yellow card before matchweek 19. With nine matches still to go before this danger passes, it will be a challenge for the Forest man to avoid this fate.
Leeds United are next up for Sean Dyche’s men, in what will be a feisty encounter between two of the league’s current bottom five, and if Williams receives a booking against the Whites then he will serve his one-match suspension against Liverpool.
Williams was one of Melwood’s very own, and was on the books at Liverpool from the age of six until he eventually departed for Forest for £17million in 2022. After making 33 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, Williams has now made 120 for Forest and become an established Premier League player.
‘Top’ Williams enjoyed outstanding 2024/25 season
Williams was part of a Forest side which far exceeded their expectations last season, finishing in seventh and qualifying for the Europa League after having spent the majority of the season in the top four.
The Wales international adapted his game to become a left-back, switching from his more natural opposite flank, and became a mainstay in the Forest starting XI as the season went on. He was heavily praised by Nottinghamshire Live at the end of the campaign, receiving a 9/10 rating for the season as the publication released their end-of-term ratings for their 2024/25 squad.
“A few wobbly moments in the final few games were noticeable, largely because the Welshman had been performing at such a high level previously. Put in top display after top display once he had won back his place in the XI and always wore his heart on his sleeve. Rating: 9/10”, read Williams’ glowing evaluation.
Should Williams avoid a booking against Leeds and take to the Anfield turf later this month, it will not be his first return to his former club. The 24-year-old scored on his very first return to Anfield back in 2023, but did not celebrate out of respect for the Reds after levelling the scores ahead of an eventual 3-2 Liverpool victory.
His goal led to a playful response from Jurgen Klopp when the two reconciled at full-time. “It was deflected!”, said the German.
Williams, who had not scored in the Premier League or for Forest at all before that day, responded: “It was on target, though, so I'll take it!”
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