Liverpool will continue their push for a top-four Premier League finish on Sunday when they travel to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Arne Slot will be wary after Forest’s 3-0 win at Anfield last November, though the hosts are in turmoil, having sacked Sean Dyche and appointed Vitor Pereira as their fourth manager this season.
Liverpool earned a point at the same ground in January 2025, coming back from 1-0 down. Currently sixth with 42 points, the Merseysiders are chasing rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, while Forest sit 17th with 27 points, just three above the relegation zone.
The Premier League champions have won four of their last five matches and six of their last seven, showing signs of returning to form. Forest will hope for a boost under Pereira, but the squad faces uncertainty following constant managerial changes.
For Liverpool, anything less than a win would hinder their push for the top four. Nottingham Forest hope to have key defender Murillo available for the Premier League clash.
The Reds travel having failed to beat Forest in three attempts under Arne Slot, including a 3-0 defeat at Anfield earlier this season. A win for the Reds would see them level on points with Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification, while Forest remain in a relegation battle, three points above the drop zone.
Newly-appointed manager Vitor Pereira is eager to have Murillo back after the centre-back missed the past two games. Forest face Fenerbahce in the Europa League knockout play-off first leg in Istanbul on Thursday, and Murillo has travelled with the squad.
“He is here training with us,” Pereira said in his pre-match press conference. “That means he is in contention to play tomorrow. However, Forest are likely to be without goalkeeper Matz Sels due to a groin injury.
Sels has been omitted from the club’s UEFA squad for their upcoming matches against Fenerbahce, with Stefan Ortega brought in as cover. With the Liverpool game sandwiched between those fixtures, it appears Sels will miss Sunday’s clash. “I don’t think it is a long-term injury,” said Pereira. “I spoke with him yesterday and he is recovering well. We will see.”
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