Paul Merson, Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton have all made their predictions for Nottingham Forest's crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool at the City Ground on Sunday
Morgan King
11:21, 21 Feb 2026
Alan Shearer has offered his verdict on the game
Alan Shearer has offered his verdict on the game(Image: Getty Images)
Nottingham Forest made the perfect start under new manager Vitor Pereira as they thrashed Turkish giants Fenerbahce 3-0 in Istanbul.
The East Midlands club have endured a nightmarish hangover following the euphoric highs of their 2024/25 campaign, sitting in 17th place despite qualifying for European competition for the first time in three decades.
Former Everton manager Sean Dyche was fired last week, after Forest could only muster a 0-0 draw against a 20th-placed Wolves side that have secured just one league victory all season. Liverpool, too, have experienced quite the drop-off from clinching a 20th top-flight league title last season.
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Rather than mounting a credible title defence, the Reds are looking up at an Arsenal side 16 points clear of them and face a battle to retain their Champions League status as we enter the run-in.
When the two sides clash at the City Ground on Sunday, both sets of supporters will be desperate for three points, with plenty riding on their respective campaigns. So what are the pundits saying?
Paul Merson
The Arsenal legend, who made 424 appearances for the Gunners and won the league twice, made his prediction in his regular column for Sportskeeda:.
"This is a humungous game at both ends of the table. Vitor Pereira has taken over from Sean Dyche at Nottingham Forest and he'll be under pressure.
"Forest have to start winning games, draws won't be enough from now on. Before this clash against Liverpool, they have to travel to Fenerbahce for their Europa League game. That could take a toll on them.
"I think Forest have a good chance of staying up because they have decent fixtures coming up. But they must look to get a result against Liverpool this weekend to set the tone for it.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White(Image: Ahmet Okatali/Anadolu via Getty Images)
"Liverpool destroyed Sunderland last time out. I haven't seen any other team do that to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this season. Ibrahima Konate and Mohamed Salah starting to look like their old selves has helped Liverpool.
"You don't play for Liverpool if you're not a good defender, so Konate must have the trust of everyone at the club. Otherwise, Liverpool would have gone all in for Guehi.
"The Liverpool line-up also looks quite settled now. A few weeks ago, we had no idea who would be in the starting XI. But now, at least nine players are nailed on and that has made a difference to them. I expect a comfortable win."
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Liverpool.
Chris Sutton
The title-winning Blackburn Rovers striker, who amassed 255 Premier League appearances, gave his assessment of the match for BBC Sport:.
"When Vítor Pereira went in as Wolves manager in December 2024, he did brilliantly to keep them up - but he has essentially taken them down this season, picking up only two points from 10 games before he was sacked.
"Now he has arrived at Forest as their fourth manager of the season. I don't think his predecessor, Sean Dyche, deserved the sack. Based on the results in his 18 games in charge, Forest would be 12th in the table, but we are used to seeing managerial changes at the City Ground now.
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"We know Pereira will try to keep things tight, but Forest's biggest issue throughout this campaign has been scoring goals and I am not sure they will be able to get at Liverpool.
"Arne Slot's side became the first team to win at the Stadium of Light when they edged out Sunderland in their last league game, and I can see a similar outcome here."
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool.
Alan Shearer
Shearer, Sutton's former strike partner at Blackburn and the Premier League's all-time leading goalscorer, also weighed in with his thoughts in his predictions column for Betfair:.
"Nottingham Forest have a change of manager and it was a huge decision which sort of came out of the blue. But I think Liverpool look as if they've got some sort of normality back, so I'll go for an away win.
"I think it'll be between Nottingham Forest and West Ham for who does take that third relegation place. I don't see Forest getting anything this weekend.
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"I think they'll make it tough but not have enough on the day. I think, as Arsenal found it tough, City found it tough there as well, and Liverpool will as well because I think Vitor Pereira will get a great reception and the City Ground will be rocking.
"However, I think the form that Liverpool are in, they'll just have too much."
Prediction: Liverpool win.