Nottingham Forest snatched a point at Brighton on Tuesday, though a second victory of the season remains elusive for the Premier League’s bottom club. Today, Steve Cooper’s relegation favourites host a Liverpool side that has shown flashes of former glory in recent performances and the Reds will expect to canter to victory at the City Ground.
We’ve put a stats pack together for today’s fixture below, which contains information on shots, cards, corners, xG, fouls and more from the teams’ Premier League fixtures since the summer. You know the drill by now. Use our research to improve your bet builder selections for the game.
Predicted Lineups
Moussa Niakhate, Omar Richards and Jack Colback are out of action for Nottingham Forest, while Lewis O’Brien is recovering from an illness and remains a doubt.
Harry Toffolo and Renan Lodi are both touch-and-go in defence and Neco Williams might have to switch from right to left back to cover if neither makes it today.
Jurgen Klopp still has a number of selection issues to contemplate at Liverpool with Naby Keita, Arthur, Luis Diaz, Joel Matip and Diogo Jota absent through injury. Ibrahima Konate is stepping up his recovery, though he is unlikely to start against Nottingham Forest today.
Fabio Carvalho started for Liverpool against West Ham in midweek and with alternative options thin on the ground the 20-year-old could feature again against Forest.
Team Stats
Nottingham Forest escaped the south coast with a share of the spoils on Tuesday, though they conceded a galling 19 attempts against Brighton and could have been hammered had Dean Henderson not been in inspired form between the sticks.
Only Everton are conceding more shots per 90 than struggling Forest this term (15.64) and only Wolves have been scoring less frequently than the Tricky Trees (0.64 p/90). Forest have also collected more cards than any other side in the division so far (30).
Liverpool managed to beat West Ham 1-0 at Anfield on Wednesday evening, securing back-to-back Premier League clean sheets for the first time this season in the process following their triumph over Man City on Sunday by the same scoreline.
Everywhere you look, there are impressive underlying stats for the Reds, though Liverpool are still down in seventh spot despite their positive numbers. Only Man City have been clocking up more attempts on goal per 90 than Klopp’s charges (17.60) and only Newcastle have been winning more corners than the Reds (7.10 p/90).
Player Shots And Shots On Target
Taiwo Awoniyi has been posting some encouraging numbers following his summer move from Germany, though the Nigerian was on the bench against Brighton in midweek and he could be kept there today.
Forest mustered just three attempts at the Amex Stadium and Brennan Johnson (1.24 p/90) was their only forward to chip in with one of those efforts. Emmanuel Dennis (2.72) can threaten when handed opportunities to feature, though few Forest players are expected to make much of an impact in the final third against Liverpool.
Attackers Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah were really on song against West Ham on Wednesday, registering six, five and six attempts against the Irons respectively on Merseyside.
All three players feature prominently on the Reds’ list of most prolific players in the shooting department for the season and midweek match-winner Nunez managed to get three shots on target against the Irons.
Player Goals And Assists
Nottingham Forest have now scored just one goal in their last 360 minutes of Premier League football and Emmanuel Dennis (vs Villa) is the only squad member to have found the net since the middle of September.
Jesse Lingard continues to disappoint for Forest. The ex-England international is still searching for his first goal or assist this season and the 29-year-old touched the ball just 16 times against Brighton in midweek.
Darwin Nunez scored his first-ever goal at Anfield with a bullet header against West Ham on Wednesday evening and the Uruguayan now has four goal contributions in just seven Premier League appearances for his new employers.
Mohamed Salah’s magical winning goal against Man City last weekend felt like a significant moment for the Egyptian. Trent Alexander-Arnold claimed 12 Premier League assists last term though the 24-year-old has yet to get off the mark in that department in 2022/23.
Nottingham Forest Cards
Forest centre-backs Scott McKenna (four cards) and Steve Cook (four cards) will be in for a busy afternoon at the City Ground against Liverpool’s lethal frontline, while fullback and ex-Red Neco Williams will be determined to put on a show against his former teammates.
In midfield, Forest will look to Cheickhou Kouyate to do much of the heavy lifting and the 32-year-old has been a consistent source of fouls this season (2.39 p/90).
Livewire forward Darwin Nunez will believe he has the beating of Steve Cook from both a physical and technical perspective and the Forest stalwart might get frustrated against the combative Uruguayan today.
Fabio Carvalho (fouled 2.92 times p/90) should have another chance to shine today and the winger is clever enough to draw fouls from Neco Williams. In midfield, Thiago is still the Reds’ biggest magnet for mistimed challenges and Forest’s Kouyate will be on the Spaniard’s case from the first whistle today.
Match ups to watch
Steve Cook vs Roberto Firmino
Neco Williams vs Mo Salah
Cheickhou Kouyate vs Harvey Elliot
Liverpool Cards
Liverpool don’t tend to draw many cards, but when there are cynical skills required, Fabinho is usually front of the line to offer his services. The Brazilian has been committing 1.76 fouls p/90 this term, which is a decent chunk less than his midfield partner Thiago (2.14), though the latter got away with a booking in midweek after he gave away three free kicks.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defending has been under the microscope this season and the England man has been carded twice in the Premier League overall and twice in his last five appearances in all competitions.
24-year-old Ryan Yates (fouled 2.80 times per/90) has collected some bumps and bruises this season and the midfielder could be on the wrong end of a forceful tackle or two from Thiago today.
Morgan Gibbs-White (fouled 0.80 times per/90) will try to find room to exploit between Liverpool’s lines today and if he does, then Fabinho will be quick to stop him in his tracks.
Emmanuel Dennis (fouled 4.62 times p/90) has a habit of making life uncomfortable for his markers and he could trouble nervous defender Alexander-Arnold when he drifts into the left channel for Forest.
Match-Ups to watch
Fabinho vs Morgan Gibbs-White
James Milner vs Emmanuel Dennis
