via Reuters
Liverpool have the chance to gather their first three points in the Andoni Iraola era when they entertain a Nottingham Forest side looking for their first win under their new manager at Anfield on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.
The Reds snatched a point at the death away at Newcastle United last Sunday, courtesy of a 99th-minute Dominik Szoboszlai penalty. The nature of their performance on Tyneside raised concerns amongst supporters, although the imminent signing of Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola should raise morale heading into the clash with Forest.
Oliver Glasner's tenure as boss of the East Midlands club started with a disappointing defeat at home to Leeds United last weekend. The Austrian needs his side to bounce back and produce a positive display on Merseyside; otherwise the pressure will already start to build on him.
GIVEMESPORT has taken a look at the team news for both sides and how they could line up on Saturday...
Liverpool Team News
joe gomez
Iraola is coping with a somewhat thin squad, and he's not being helped by the extensive injury list he's inherited. Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike are fighting their way back from long-term injuries, with neither player expected to feature until later in the year. Meanwhile, Giovani Leoni is also recovering from a serious setback, and while a return date hasn't been provided for the youngster, he should be close to featuring again given it's almost been a year since he sustained the injury.
Federico Chiesa is likely to miss the game against Forest as he recovers from a back problem, while Joe Gomez has been ruled out with a muscle issue. Jayden Danns won't be available due to a thigh strain.
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Liverpool Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Conor Bradley
Hugo Ekitike
Federico Chiesa
Joe Gomez
Jayden Danns
Giovanni Leoni
Iraola Drops Team News Update
REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Iraola provided an update on Chiesa.
"Fede is not available, in the game against Como he felt something in his back."
Predicted Liverpool XI
Reuters
There aren't many different configurations Iraola can currently set up with due to the shortage of senior options in his squad. Jeremy Jacquet will be granted an opportunity to build upon his promising Premier League debut alongside Virgil van Dijk, with Jeremier Frimpong and Milos Kerkez likely to start again outside of the centre-back partnership.
The one change Iraola might make is to bring new signing Victor Munoz in for his first start. The Spaniard impressed off the bench against the Magpies, while Rio Ngumoha struggled on the right.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Munoz, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Predicted Liverpool Substitutes: Mamardashvili (GK), Araujo (DEF), Tsimikas (DEF), Mac Allister (MID), Endo (MID), Nyoni (MID), McConnell (MID), Koumas (FWD), Ngumoha (FWD).
Nottingham Forest Team News
Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Glasner has been handed a few injury boosts ahead of his first away game as Forest head coach. Neco Williams, Ryan Yates and Morgan Gibbs-White, all of whom were doubts due to various fitness issues, have been passed fit for the visit to the north-west.
However, midfielder Ibrahim Sangare has been ruled out with a calf injury. Italian full-back Nicolo Savona remains a long-term absentee with a knee problem, and isn't expected back until mid-October.
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Nottingham Forest Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Nicolo Savona
Ibrahim Sangare
Morgan Gibbs-White
Ryan Yates
Neco Williams
Courtesy of PremierInjuries.com
Glasner Drops Team News Update
Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Speaking to the media ahead of the encounter on Merseyside, Glasner confirmed that Gibbs-White and Yates are available, whilst providing an update on Sangare.
"Yes, Morgan [Gibbs-White] is available, Ryan Yates is available, that is the good news. Ibrahim Sangare picked up a minor calf injury during Wednesday’s training session so he will miss tomorrow’s game. But the other two will return."
Predicted Nottingham Forest XI
oliver glasner
Jair Cunha started for Forest against Leeds in the league, but new signing Ousmane Diomande could be handed his first Premier League outing at Anfield in place of the Brazilian, after playing an hour in the Carabao Cup clash against the Whites on Tuesday.
In the middle of the park, new signing Xaver Schlager could come into the side as a replacement for Sangare. James McAtee started in the double pivot against Leeds, but Glasner might opt for the more conservative option in Nicolas Dominguez given they're travelling to Liverpool.
Ola Aina and Neco Williams will flank this midfield once again, while Dan Ndoye will likely get the nod next to Gibbs-White as one of the two inside forwards. Liam Delap signed from Chelsea this week, but this game will likely come too soon for the Englishman to make his Forest debut.
Predicted Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Diomande, Milenkovic, Murillo; Aina, Schlager, Dominguez, Williams; Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Igor Jesus.
Predicted Nottingham Forest Substitutes: Victor (GK), Abbott (DEF), Cunha (DEF), Netz (DEF), Dominguez (MID), McAtee (MID), Wood (FWD), Delap (FWD), Hudson-Odoi (FWD).