Liverpool vs Forest Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Liverpool welcome Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Saturday night New Zealand time, with both clubs still chasing a first win of the new Premier League season.

Andoni Iraola’s debut in the Liverpool dugout produced a dramatic 2-2 draw at Newcastle, Dominik Szoboszlai converting a 99th-minute penalty to rescue a point. Forest have lost twice in four days to Leeds - 1-0 on the opening weekend and 2-0 in the EFL Cup at the City Ground.

In this Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest preview, I look at form, team news and a goals-market angle at over $4.00 for those browsing the best betting apps this week.

Liverpool

I thought Liverpool were pretty poor at Newcastle. 

Anthony Elanga scored after five minutes, and even after Gakpo levelled in the 55th, Joe Willock restored the lead two minutes later. Twice behind at St James’ Park on the opening day isn’t the start Iraola wanted. Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk looked uncomfortable as a centre-back pairing at times.

Florian Wirtz didn’t do a lot at Newcastle, and I’m expecting a much bigger performance from him here. Cody Gakpo’s equaliser was exactly the sort of goal Liverpool will need from their wide players this season - arriving late in the box, finishing clinically.

Anfield is a different proposition for Iraola. He’ll want to stamp his authority on this place early, and Forest are vulnerable right now despite their recent Anfield record.

Team News: Bradley, Ekitike, Leoni and Gomez are long-term absentees. Danns is also out. Jones is a doubt with a groin issue.

Predicted Lineup: Alisson; Frimpong, Araujo, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.

Nottingham Forest

Two defeats to Leeds is not how Glasner would have drawn up his first week. 

I watched the league opener and Forest were the better side for long stretches - Milenkovic struck the post with a header, Igor Jesus went close - but they couldn’t convert. Then Anton Stach’s free-kick stole it in the 88th minute.

Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 looked more organised than anything Forest produced for most of last season. But Jesus was isolated up front, and Dan Ndoye couldn’t find pockets of space between the lines. Whether Glasner sticks with the same personnel or rotates after the cup defeat will be telling.

Morgan Gibbs-White is the big worry for me. He missed the EFL Cup match with a knee problem, and if he’s absent here, Forest lose their most creative player.

Team News: Yates and Savona are injured. Gibbs-White is a major doubt with a knee injury. Williams came off hurt in the cup match and faces a fitness test.

Predicted Lineup: Sels; Murillo, Milenkovic, Diomande; Aina, Schlager, Dominguez, Williams; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Igor Jesus.

• Forest have won their last two Premier League visits to Anfield, their first back-to-back league wins at the ground since 1963.
• Liverpool have drawn or lost three of their last five Premier League meetings with Forest.
• Over 2.5 goals has come in during just three of the last eight league meetings between these sides.
• Forest have failed to score in two consecutive matches to open the season.
• Liverpool rescued a point with a 99th-minute penalty at Newcastle on the opening weekend.

I’m backing Liverpool to win, but it’ll be a tight one. 

Forest’s Anfield record over the past two seasons has been outstanding, and Glasner is a far better coach than the early results suggest. If Gibbs-White plays, Forest have the quality to cause problems on the break.

I can’t see Forest - who haven’t scored in two games - suddenly clicking into gear. Liverpool’s front four is frightening on paper, even if Wirtz and Alexander Isak haven’t fully found their feet yet. Iraola’s first home match will have an edge to it. I’m going 2-0.

If you’re following along on the new betting sites available in New Zealand, I’d look at the goals markets. Forest will drop deep and try to counter, which could mean value in the unders if you think Liverpool struggle to break them down.

Liverpool Win to Nil @ $2.50

Forest haven’t scored in two straight matches. Their attack looked blunt against Leeds even when they were on top, and losing Gibbs-White for this one would strip them of their best creative option.

Liverpool’s defence needs a response after Newcastle. I think Iraola will have worked hard on their structure this week, and Anfield gives them an intensity they didn’t have at St James’ Park. At $2.50, Liverpool to win without conceding is strong value against an attack that can’t buy a goal right now.

That’s a price I’m happy to take on the betting sites NZ has available right now.