Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche says his team will need to perform at their very best—on their “A game”—to stand a chance of defeating Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
Forest headed into the November international break after a 3-1 win over Leeds United, marking Dyche’s first league victory since replacing Ange Postecoglou.
Currently sitting ninth in the Premier League, Forest will aim for another upset against the defending champions.
Liverpool lost this same fixture 1-0 last season, the only league match in which they failed to score. They have not suffered back-to-back home league defeats to Forest since 1963.
Although Dyche is confident his side can compete, he emphasised that the margin for mistakes will be slim.
“I think you want the team and yourself to be confident wherever you are going. I think, you know, you can’t guarantee these things.
“But I think we have got a team that can compete, and that’s a big thing. Every game means something and we are beginning to build that mentality.
“Now after last season I remember the performance and the result, you have got to deliver some of that as well; like I said, these are still a good outfit.
“You have got to defend well and you have got to play well whatever style that is. On that day, it was soak up and absorb and counter.
“Whether you’re playing that style or more open, you have got to be on you’re A game to beat these teams, particularly at their place. We know that, and the players are aware of that.”
Liverpool slipped to eighth in the table following a 3-0 loss to Manchester City before the break.
The Reds now trail leaders Arsenal by eight points, and only Manchester United and Bournemouth have conceded more goals than Liverpool’s 17 among teams in the top half this season.
Hugo Ekitike believes Liverpool face a challenging road in defending their title but expects improvement.
“I think it’s going to be a tough period with a lot of games – not easy games. The games before the internationals were obviously difficult, too,” he told the club’s website.
“We are going to need to stick together and really support each other because it is going to be a busy period with a lot of matches.
“But I am confident. I think we can do something; we have a lot of games to come back to, but it is a good place for us to be there.
“We can switch to victories again. It is just [about] momentum. I believe we can improve and get better.”
Players to Watch
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah
Salah is set to make his 300th Premier League appearance for the club, becoming only the fifth Liverpool player to reach the milestone. His 276 goal contributions are tied for the most by any player for a single Premier League side.
Nottingham Forest – Morgan Gibbs-White
Gibbs-White has scored in Forest’s last two league matches and could make it three in a row for the first time in his career. One more goal would place him among the club’s top four Premier League scorers.
Match Prediction – Liverpool Win
Despite losing five of their last six league matches, Liverpool have won four of five at Anfield this season. They have suffered just one defeat in their last 22 home league fixtures.
Forest remain winless away from home this season and have lost their last two away matches without scoring.
Last season, Forest won 1-0 at Anfield and drew 1-1 at home against Liverpool, but they have not gone three league games unbeaten against the Reds since 1993.
Opta Win Probability
- Liverpool – 71.1%
- Draw – 16.5%
