Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Premier League Clash at the City Ground
Everything you need to know as the reigning Premier League champions, Liverpool, travel to face Nottingham Forest in a crucial league encounter. This match marks the first Premier League game in charge for new Forest manager Vitor Pereira, who will be looking to build on a positive start to his tenure.
Match Details and Broadcast Information
The highly anticipated Premier League fixture between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool is scheduled to kick off at 2pm GMT on Sunday, 22 February 2026. The match will be held at the historic City Ground in Nottingham, providing a vibrant backdrop for this important league contest.
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League channels. Subscribers to Sky Sports services can also stream the match online through the Sky Go mobile application or via the official Sky Sports website, ensuring comprehensive coverage across multiple platforms.
Team News and Predicted Line-ups
Nottingham Forest enter this match with no fresh injury concerns following their impressive 3-0 victory against Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-offs. However, the team continues to be without several key players including Willy Boly, Chris Wood, John Victor, Matz Sels and Nicolo Savona who all remain sidelined through injury.
The predicted starting eleven for Nottingham Forest features Stefan Ortega in goal, with a defensive line of Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo and Neco Williams. The midfield is expected to include Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare, while the attacking trio consists of Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi supporting striker Igor Jesus.
Liverpool's predicted line-up shows Alisson Becker between the posts, with a defensive unit comprising Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez. The midfield partnership is likely to feature Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, while the attacking force includes Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo supporting forward Hugo Ekitike.
Match Context and Managerial Impact
Vitor Pereira's first match in charge of Nottingham Forest resulted in an impressive 3-0 away victory against Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-offs, with goals from Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus securing a commanding advantage. While this European success provides a confidence boost, Pereira's primary objective remains steering Forest clear of relegation danger in the Premier League.
Liverpool arrive at the City Ground as defending Premier League champions, currently pursuing a top-five finish to secure qualification for next season's prestigious Champions League competition. The visitors face a challenging away fixture against a Forest side buoyed by their new manager's immediate impact and determined to cause an upset against the title holders.
Betting Odds and Match Prediction
The latest betting odds for this Premier League encounter show Nottingham Forest at 3/1 to secure a home victory, with the draw also priced at 3/1. Liverpool enter as favorites at 4/5 to claim all three points from their visit to the City Ground.
Our match prediction considers Pereira's positive influence on Forest since his appointment, combined with the quality within their squad to trouble even the league champions, particularly when playing at home. We anticipate a closely contested match resulting in a score draw, with our final prediction being Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool.
