Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Prediction: Key Stats and Betting Tips

Liverpool welcome Nottingham Forest to Anfield on 29 August 2026 in Premier League Regular Season - 2, with both sides looking to set the tone for their campaigns after contrasting opening results. Under the watch of referee S. Barrott, the Anfield crowd will expect a response from a Liverpool side that drew their first match despite scoring twice away from home.

The hosts sit 10th with 1 point after a 2-2 draw on the road, while Nottingham Forest arrive in Liverpool 15th and still pointless following a 0-1 home defeat. Early in the season the table is compressed, but this fixture already feels important: Liverpool need to assert themselves as top-half – and likely European – contenders, while Forest must avoid slipping into an early relegation battle.

Recent head-to-head meetings have been surprisingly competitive, with Forest enjoying some big results at Anfield in the last few years. However, current stats and market odds strongly lean towards a home win, setting up an intriguing clash between Liverpool’s attacking potential and Forest’s need to tighten up and find a goal threat.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Key Stats

• Liverpool are 10th with 1 point after 1 match, scoring 2 and conceding 2 in the Premier League standings.
• In their last Premier League meeting on 22 February 2026 at City Ground, Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 away.
• In 2026 Premier League statistics, Liverpool average 2.0 goals scored and 2.0 conceded per match, while Nottingham Forest have yet to score and concede 1.0 per match.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest — Tale of the Tape

• Position: 10 vs 15
• Points: 1 vs 0
• Goals For: 2 vs 0
• Goals Against: 2 vs 1
• Clean Sheets: Liverpool 0, Nottingham Forest 0 (tournament statistics)

From the early Premier League standings, Liverpool have started with a high-scoring draw away from home, indicating attacking sharpness but defensive vulnerability. Two goals scored and two conceded in one match underline a side that can create but is still finding balance.

Nottingham Forest, by contrast, opened with a narrow 0-1 home defeat. They have yet to score in the league this season and have already failed to score once in one match, according to their tournament statistics. Forest’s defensive numbers (1 goal conceded in 1 game) are not alarming, but the lack of attacking output will be a concern heading into Anfield, where they will likely see less of the ball and face more pressure.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Key Matchups

R. Gravenberch vs O. Aina

Ryan Gravenberch is Liverpool’s standout creative presence so far in the 2026 Premier League campaign. In his single appearance, he has provided 1 assist in 78 minutes, completed 47 passes with an excellent 91% accuracy, and produced 1 key pass. His rating of 6.9 and involvement across duels (10 contested, 4 won) and defensive work (1 tackle, 2 interceptions) show he is influencing the game in multiple phases.

He will often operate in zones where O. Aina, listed as a midfielder for Nottingham Forest, can be a key disruptor. Aina has also played 1 match with a 6.9 rating, contributing 26 passes (65% accuracy), 3 key passes and 5 duels won from 11. He has 1 yellow card already, underlining his combative style. This duel between Gravenberch’s progressive passing and Aina’s physicality and ball-carrying (5 dribbles attempted, 3 successful) could be central to whether Forest can slow Liverpool’s build-up and launch counters.

Forest back line vs Liverpool attack (Jair as anchor)

With no Liverpool top scorers data yet, the focus shifts to Nottingham Forest defender Jair, who has been heavily involved at the back. In his single Premier League appearance, he played the full 90 minutes, making 2 tackles, 2 blocks and 1 interception, while completing 42 passes at 88% accuracy. He also contested 11 duels, winning 4, and picked up a yellow card.

Jair will likely be central to Forest’s defensive resistance against a Liverpool side that already averages 2.0 goals per game and has shown they can create chances across both halves. His ability to read danger and win key duels will be tested by Liverpool’s varied attacking options from their deep squad, even if individual scoring stats are not yet recorded for this season.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

The recent history between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest has been competitive, with both sides enjoying notable wins home and away in the Premier League and FA Cup. Matches have often been tight, low-scoring affairs, but Forest have also produced some eye-catching results at Anfield.

• 22 February 2026: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
• 22 November 2025: Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
• 14 January 2025: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
• 14 September 2024: Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
• 2 March 2024: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Prediction

Stats suggest a nuanced picture. Liverpool are favoured to win, but this is far from a foregone conclusion given Forest’s recent success at Anfield. The prediction model gives Liverpool a 35% chance of victory, with a 35% chance of a draw and a 30% chance of an away win. That distribution reflects both Liverpool’s attacking upside and Forest’s stubbornness in this fixture.

Liverpool’s early-season profile is of a team that scores and concedes: 2.0 goals for and 2.0 against per match, with both goals scored in the second half of their opening game. Forest have yet to score, averaging 0.0 goals for and 1.0 against, and have already failed to score once. That lack of cutting edge, combined with Anfield’s environment, tilts the balance toward the home side.

Head-to-head patterns show several one-goal margins and low totals, so while Liverpool are expected to control territory and chances, a runaway scoreline is not guaranteed. With the predicted winner listed as Liverpool and the probabilities fairly balanced between home and draw, a narrow home victory looks the most likely outcome.

Predicted Score: Liverpool 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Liverpool Recent Form

Liverpool’s recent Premier League form in 2026 is a single draw. That 2-2 away result underlines both resilience and defensive looseness: they came away with a point, scoring twice, but also allowed two goals, including one early in the match. Their tournament statistics show no clean sheets yet and a tendency for goals at both ends, with one goal scored and one conceded in the 46–60 minute window and another goal scored later in the second half.

Nottingham Forest Recent Form

Nottingham Forest’s current Premier League form is a single loss. Their 0-1 home defeat means they have yet to score and have already failed to find the net once this season. They conceded their only goal late in the match (in the 76–90 minute window), suggesting concentration issues in the closing stages. Forest’s attacking numbers are flat so far, with no goals and no matches going over 0.5 goals in their favour.

Liverpool Possible Starting Lineup

GK: Alisson Becker or G. Mamardashvili

Defenders: V. van Dijk, J. Gomez, M. Kerkez, K. Tsimikas, J. Frimpong

Midfielders: W. Endo, A. Mac Allister, R. Gravenberch, D. Szoboszlai, F. Wirtz, C. Jones

Forwards: F. Chiesa, A. Isak, C. Gakpo, H. Ekitike, L. Koumas

Liverpool’s squad list and their preferred 4-2-3-1 formation in the current tournament suggest a strong spine built around Alisson in goal, Virgil van Dijk at the back and a technically gifted midfield including Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. With no injuries reported, the manager has a wealth of attacking options such as Chiesa, Isak and Gakpo to rotate across the front line. Expect Liverpool to dominate possession with overlapping full-backs like Frimpong and Tsimikas, and multiple creative outlets between the lines.

Nottingham Forest Possible Starting Lineup

GK: M. Sels or S. Benda

Defenders: Jair, N. Milenković, Morato, Murillo, L. Netz, O. Diomande

Midfielders: O. Aina, N. Domínguez, N. Williams, I. Sangaré, X. Schlager, R. Yates, J. McAtee

Forwards: M. Gibbs-White, C. Hudson-Odoi, T. Awoniyi, A. Kalimuendo, Igor Jesus, D. Ndoye

Forest have been using a 3-4-2-1 shape in this Premier League season, which points towards a back three anchored by players like Jair and Milenković, with wing-backs such as Netz or Williams providing width. In attack, Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi can support a central striker like Awoniyi. With several versatile midfielders (Domínguez, Sangaré, Schlager), Forest can either pack the centre to frustrate Liverpool or look to spring quick transitions. However, the lack of goals so far suggests they are still searching for the right attacking balance.

Liverpool Team News

No significant absences reported.

Nottingham Forest Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

Liverpool:

• None reported.

Nottingham Forest:

• None reported.

Betting Tips: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

Exactly 3 distinct betting angles based on current stats, probabilities and market prices:

• Result Tip: Back Liverpool to win. With Liverpool rated as the predicted winner and given a 35% home win probability versus 30% for Forest and 35% for the draw, plus clear attacking superiority (2.0 goals per game vs Forest’s 0.0), the home side is the logical pick. Across bookmakers, Liverpool’s odds range from 1.42 to 1.54, implying roughly a 64.9%–70.4% chance of victory. That aligns with their strong squad and Anfield advantage.
• Goals Tip: Under 3.5 total goals. Recent head-to-head matches have often been tight: four of the last five Premier League meetings listed finished with two goals or fewer (1-0, 0-3, 1-1, 0-1, 0-1). Forest have not scored yet this season, while Liverpool average 2.0 goals for and 2.0 against, but from a very small sample. The market’s primary focus is the match winner, yet the H2H pattern and Forest’s attacking struggles point towards a game that is more likely decided by one or two goals than a high-scoring shootout. Use the available match-winner odds as a guide to market expectations, but look for an Under 3.5 line where priced sensibly.
• Value Tip: Liverpool to win & Nottingham Forest under 1.5 goals (same-game angle). Forest have failed to score in their only league game this season and have a tournament average of 0.0 goals per match. Even in previous meetings where they have upset Liverpool, the margins have been narrow. Combining a Liverpool win with Forest scoring no more than once offers a way to improve on the short home odds (1.42–1.54 for the straight win, implying around 64.9%–70.4%) while staying consistent with both the prediction percentages and Forest’s early attacking data.

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.