The State of Play
Nuno Espirito Santo remains under a bit of pressure in charge of Nottingham Forest with the style and standard of football being served up at the City Ground being underwhelming. They were beaten by a goal to nil by Manchester United at home in midweek with a late winning goal scored by Casemiro. They are hovering above the bottom three with a potential points deduction also looming.
Jurgen Klopp will be departing Liverpool at the end of the season with silverware to show for his final campaign as an inexperienced and injury ravaged Reds side defeated Chelsea by a goal to nil after extra-time last weekend in the final of the EFL Cup at the Wembley Stadium. ‘Klopp’s kids’ continued their impressive performances as they hammered Southampton by three goals to nil in the fifth round of the FA Cup in midweek.
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Team News
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has yet to welcome back the likes of Willy Boly, Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangare after the Africa Cup of Nations with all three yet to have a date placed upon their return.
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool are dealing with several injury issues. The likes of Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain unavailable for the EFL Cup winners, as well as Mohamed Salah, but Darwin Nunez is back in training.
Expected Line-ups
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Williams, Felipe, Murillo, Niakhate; Dominguez, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi
Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Elliott; Luiz Diaz, Gakpo, Darwin
What they Said
In the aftermath of his sides loss to Manchester United, Nuno Espirito Santo was keen not to use VAR as an excuse. “Speaking to the players, they said there was a block in a possible offside. They checked it. But we have had so many issues during this period with VAR and referees that lets try to forget about it and move forward.”
Klopp was keen to praise Caoimhin Kelleher after Liverpool’s victories over Chelsea and Southampton. “Call it the Caoimhin Kelleher games because without him in that shape and Ali injured, we wouldn’t have won the Carabao Cup and wouldn’t have won tonight. That’s the goalie’s job as well.”
When and How to Watch
This match will be played at the City Ground at 15:00 on Saturday March 2nd. It will not be televised live in the UK and can therefore not be streamed live in the UK, legally, either.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest have made life difficult for Manchester United in two games at the City Ground since the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo but the difference in level between United and their arch-rivals, Liverpool, is a big one. Liverpool will head to Nottingham and expect to win quite comfortably, even with injuries. Injury concerns make it a little more complex but an away win remains the likely outcome.
