Liverpool come up against a struggling Nottingham Forest side in the Premier League this weekend, with the Reds potentially exploiting new manager Vitor Pereira’s system.
It has been a positive week for the Reds, who have rattled off two wins in a row without conceding a goal.
On Sunday, Liverpool head to relegation-threatened Forest who, incredibly, now have their fourth manager of the season in Pereira.
They won 3-0 at Anfield earlier in this season, which should act as a word of warning for the Reds.
Ahead of the match, This Is Anfield spoke to Forest fan and podcaster Matt Davies (@MattDavies_FF) to look ahead to a big afternoon for both sides.
How would you rate Forest’s season out of 10?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Nottingham Forest's Murillo celebrates with team-mates after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Probably a three.
The Premier League has been pretty much a disaster and now we’re in the thick of the relegation battle.
It’s basically a last roll of the dice with a fourth manager, but there are reasons for optimism that we can stay up.
Europe has been something of a saving grace and we still have hope that we can go far in the Europa League.
Three of the eight games were awful, but we did enough to get through comfortably for a playoff game against Fenberbahce.
Was it right to sack Sean Dyche?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Nottingham Forest's head coach Sean Dyche shakes hands with Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Ultimately yes.
Sean Dyche was getting results and might have kept us up, but on the balance of what we saw, I’m not sure he is actually a good manager.
The players seemed to feel the same way, based on reports after his sacking.
He did have a positive early impact and the football was decent, but we got progressively worse before a strong January.
That was followed by two awful performances against Leeds and Wolves, and with West Ham revived, the owner made the choice to sack another manager.
If the players didn’t buy in, he had to go, rightly or wrongly.
Are you happy with the appointment of Vitor Pereira?
In the circumstances, yes. Vitor Pereira did what we needed last season and kept Wolves up after making an immediate impact.
He has a track record of starting well at almost all his clubs and he knows Evangelos Marinakis, having managed Olympiakos with success 11 years ago.
Which three players have impressed most this season?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool team-mates Mohamed Salah (L) and Dominik Szoboszlai (R) challenge Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The ones who have caught the eye most are undoubtedly Neco Williams and Elliot Anderson.
Williams has been ultra consistent and Anderson was brilliant at the start of the season before tailing off under Dyche.
I would put Ibrahim Sangare as the third player. He was perhaps the only player to improve with Dyche in charge. Almost all the others have struggled to varying degrees. There are too many to name!
What’s the realistic aim for the season now?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams (R) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
I think staying in the Premier League and making the Europa League quarter-finals is the bare minimum.
That seems perfectly realistic. It is very possible that we go down, though, which would be a disaster.
How do you rate Liverpool’s season and would you keep Arne Slot?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot waves to the supporters after the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. The game ended 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Obviously, it’s been way below par, but you can see why a little bit.
For starters, I don’t think we really know how much the death of Diogo Jota impacted the players. Full-backs on both flanks seem to have been an issue, while Mo Salah is great but fading.
Alexander Isak hasn’t worked out at all, and there’s very little depth at all at centre-back. I wonder if Alisson is quite as good as he was, too.
I don’t know if I can say with any authority on Arne Slot. I see a few games, but not all of them.
My instinct would be to keep him and make a few changes to the squad. I imagine Salah will go and some smart transfer business should mean a title challenge next season.
What’s your favourite and worst memories from this fixture?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 14, 2024: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker reacts as Nottingham Forest score the opening goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Most of my Liverpool memories are in the last four years, and we’ve done pretty well to be fair, winning 1-0 at home, and 1-0 and 3-0 away.
I would say the 1-0 away under Nuno Espirito Santo, as it was really the catalyst for our great season.
In terms of the worst, Matt Turner flying out of his goal and missing the ball in an easy Liverpool win, or losing in the FA Cup quarter-finals a few years ago.
Where do you think the key battles take place on Sunday?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 31, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz (R) celebrates with team-mate Mohamed Salah after scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It is tough to say as I don’t know how Pereira will set up, but I imagine if we can get at your full-backs, that will be important for us.
We might play a back-three, leaving space for Salah, Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz, which worries me.
Finally, what’s your prediction?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's Curtis Jones (L) and Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
I’ll say Forest 1-1 Liverpool.
We are desperate for points and Liverpool haven’t been great all season, so I think we can get something if we play well.