Latest Nottingham Forest verdict as Sean Dyche's Reds prepare for Premier League clash away to Liverpool at Anfield
05:00, 21 Nov 2025
Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche
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Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche(Image: PA)
Nottingham Forest are aiming to pick up from where they left off when they return to action with a trip to Anfield this weekend.
The Reds claimed their first Premier League win under new head coach Sean Dyche last time out. They headed into the international break on the back of a 3-1 triumph over Leeds United courtesy of goals from Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson.
That was the first time since the opening day of the season - when Nuno Espirito Santo was still in charge - Forest had claimed three points in the league. They remain in the drop zone but have closed the gap to 17th-placed Burnley to just one point.
The two-week hiatus has been important for Dyche and his squad. He has been able to spend valuable time on the training ground with his group as he looks to oversee a push up the table.
The break has also been beneficial for some of those players who have been struggling with knocks and injuries. Although many of them remain sidelined, they are making good progress in their recoveries.
Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, however, does have a chance of recovering from a knock and being involved in Saturday’s crunch clash with reigning champions Liverpool (3pm kick-off). It remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to start, but Dyche has suggested he could at least be in the squad.
If Hudson-Odoi does get the green light to make the XI, it would be a boost for the visitors. The wide man will have fond memories of Forest’s previous trip to Merseyside, when he scored the only goal of the game to clinch a famous win little more than 12 months ago.
“Callum Hudson-Odoi has made good progress. He’s been on the grass with us this week, so he is certainly in consideration to be in the squad which is better news,” Dyche said in his pre-match press conference.
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A fully-fit Hudson-Odoi would likely mean Nicolas Dominguez would drop out of the XI. The Argentine’s versatility of being able to play out wide came in useful against Leeds, but he would be battling with Anderson and Sangare for a place in midfield if Dyche does make a change.
It might be the Reds boss also has a call to make up front. Chris Wood is set to have another scan on a knee issue ahead of the weekend, but Dyche hinted it might be he is able to feature.
The New Zealand international is yet to get a run-out under Dyche as he has been out of action since last month’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea - a loss that proved to be Ange Postecoglou’s final match at the helm. With Taiwo Awoniyi having picked up an injury and Arnaud Kalimuendo having barely played this term, the likelihood is Igor Jesus will retain his spot up front.
Douglas Luiz (hamstring), Oleksandr Zinchenko (groin), Dilane Bakwa (unspecified injury), Angus Gunn (knee) and long-term absentees Ola Aina (hamstring) and Aaron Bott (unknown) are on the mend but remain out of action. Dyche is looking forward to a time when his numbers are boosted by their returns.
Forest predicted XI: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus.
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