Round 12 of the Premier League will kick off on November 22, with Chelsea’s away match at Burnley set as the early fixture. Later at 15:00 local time, Anfield will host a crucial clash between the relegation battlers and the top-four contenders, as defending champions Liverpool welcome a Nottingham Forest side deeply stuck in the drop zone.
In the current standings, Liverpool sit 8th with 18 points from 6 wins and 5 losses, six points off the top four. Nottingham Forest are 19th with 9 points from 2 wins, 3 draws, and 6 defeats, facing enormous relegation pressure.
This season, Liverpool have suffered several shock defeats in the league, so expectations remain cautious. Following the international break, their squad — full of national-team players — may show fatigue, which increases the likelihood of a draw. Recent form reflects Liverpool’s inconsistency: 3 wins and 3 losses in their last six matches. They can beat Real Madrid 1–0 in the Champions League and defeat Aston Villa 2–0 in the league, yet also collapse 0–3 to Manchester City and Crystal Palace. Their instability on both ends is worrying: 10 goals scored and 10 conceded in the last six matches, with defensive issues particularly evident.
Nottingham Forest, by contrast, have shown some resilience. Their recent form stands at 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in six games. They drew Sturm Graz and beat Porto in the Europa League, and managed a 2–2 draw with Manchester United in the league. However, their poor away form is a fatal weakness and a major reason for their low ranking. Forest have gone winless in their last six away matches, with 3 draws and 3 losses, scoring only 5 goals while conceding 10.
As last season’s champions, Liverpool have already lost 5 of their first 11 league matches — their worst start in years. Anfield has become their lifeline: 4 wins and 2 losses in their last six home fixtures, a 67% win rate. Against a struggling side, they urgently need a big win to rebuild confidence. Their attack relies heavily on leading scorer Hugo Ekitiké, who has netted 6 league goals. Meanwhile, €100 million signing Florian Wirtz continues to struggle in the Premier League, with 0 goals and 0 assists so far. Whether he can transfer his Champions League form into league performance remains a question.
Nottingham Forest, however, are travelling with a severely depleted squad. Key players such as goalkeeper Angus Gunn, forward Callum Hudson-Odoi, and midfielder Lewis are all sidelined. Odoi and Gunn will both miss this match, weakening both their defense and attack. Despite this, Forest have been something of a bogey team for Liverpool: last season they claimed 4 points from the Reds (1 win, 1 draw), the only team to achieve that. Psychologically, this gives them a certain edge.
Historically, Liverpool dominate this fixture. In nearly 100 meetings, Liverpool have 52 wins, 27 draws, and 21 defeats, including a crushing 37 wins in 50 home matches. But recent encounters have been far closer. In the last six meetings, Liverpool have only 2 wins (2 draws, 2 losses). Last season, they lost 0–1 away and drew 1–1 at Anfield. Forest have become an “unwelcome guest” at Anfield. Notably, Forest have not gone three consecutive matches unbeaten against Liverpool since 1993 — whether they can break this historical barrier is worth watching.
Liverpool’s manager faces a tactical dilemma. He may continue with last season’s title-winning midfield trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister, and Szoboszlai. This combination boosts possession — currently league-best at 60.7% — but struggles against deep defensive blocks. Their conversion rate of big chances is just 27.3%, far below last season’s 38.7%. Defensively, injuries to Frimpong, Leoni and others have weakened their back line. They have conceded 17 goals in 11 rounds and allowed 29 big chances — the third-worst record in the league.
Nottingham Forest are expected to employ a defensive-counterattacking strategy, exploiting Liverpool’s vulnerability in aerial duels and long-ball defense. Although their away attack is weak — only 5 goals in their last six away matches — Forest excel at set pieces and counterattacks. Their 1–0 win over Liverpool last season came from a well-executed counter. However, with both Odoi and Chris Wood absent, their counterattacking threat will be significantly reduced.
Prediction
Overall, although Liverpool remain inconsistent, their home strength and squad quality still give them the advantage. Their upcoming schedule is favorable — only one strong opponent in the next five matches. After the 0–3 loss to Manchester City, they are determined to respond.
Forest’s injury crisis and poor away form make it very difficult for them to escape Anfield with points, despite their recent good results in this fixture. Liverpool are expected to use their home momentum and attacking firepower to break their winless streak against Forest.
Forest, if they manage to secure a draw, would earn a crucial point in their battle for survival.
