Nottingham Forest can announce themselves as genuine title contenders if they get the better of league leaders Liverpool at the City Ground in this Week 21 fixture. Forest are just six points behind the Reds at the time of writing, and that gap can be slashed to three if Nuno Espirito Santo’s men continue their fine recent run. Liverpool do have a game in hand, but that fixture is against Everton, and the Toffees will never be pushovers in a Merseyside derby against their bitter rivals.
Forest have won their last six league games in a row, and will equal a century old record if they make it 7 against the Reds in midweek. Their campaign has been built on the back of some excellent defence, and that’s reflected in their most recent results- they haven’t conceded in their last five games, and goalkeeper Mats Sels is yet to be beaten this year.
Forest last five games across all competitions ahead of LFC fixture
Nottm Forest 2-0 Luton (FA Cup)
Wolves 0-3 Nottm Forest (League)
Everton 0-2 Nottm Forest (League)
Nottm Forest 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (League)
Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest (League)
As you can see, some of those scalps are genuinely impressive- most notably the victories over Spurs and Brentford (the Bees have been almost unbeatable at home this season)
Forest have the third best defence in the league currently- only LFC and Arsenal are better, and it explains why they win games despite not really dominating possession (they had less than 30% of the ball against Spurs). Santo has had them well organised in defence and able to hit teams on the counter. Forest haven’t scored much this season- their 29 pales in comparison to Liverpool’s 47, but in Chris Wood, they have an excellent old-fashioned centre forward.
Santo’s opposite number- Liverpool manager Arne Slot, appears to have luck favouring him at Anfield. His Liverpool side, to the surprise of pundits, seem to be even better than of predecessor Jurgen Klopp. Rivals Man City have faded away in shocking fashion while Arsenal have been dropping points at lower-ranked teams. We reckon the appropriately named LFC gaffer could probably play a slot at www.cookiecasino.com and win there too!
Slot will however be without key striker Darwin Nunez, with the Uruguayan suspended for this clash, and injured defender Joe Gomez. A lot could also hinge on whether Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate are fit enough to start. The Hungarian in particular is vital to the Reds’ midfield- they looked a bit off the pace against United (2-2 draw) and Spurs (1-0 LC loss) without him.
Forest are also the only side to have got the better of Slot in the league so far (a surprise 1-0 win at Anfield back in September), and Santo will be hoping that his charges can complete a rare double over the Reds.