Vítor Pereira makes his much-anticipated home debut at the City Ground on Sunday as Nottingham Forest seeks to achieve a historic league double over reigning champions Liverpool.
The team began the Pereira era with a striking 3–0 win against Fenerbahçe in the Europa League. Attention now shifts to the Premier League, where Forest currently sits 17th, just three points above the relegation zone. After already surprising Liverpool with a 3–0 victory at Anfield in November, the hosts aim to replicate that performance for critical survival points.
Liverpool, arriving in decent form, has lost only twice in their last 19 matches across all competitions. They sit sixth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United. Although their title defense has experienced some difficulties on the road, a hard-fought 1–0 win over Sunderland in their last away match provides a solid foundation as they chase Champions League qualification.
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Sunday, 22 February 2026
- Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
- Venue: City Ground, Nottingham
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- VAR: Paul Tierney
- Last Meeting: Liverpool 0–3 Nottingham Forest (22 Nov 2025), Premier League
Team News
Nottingham Forest
The squad is facing several defensive injuries, with Willy Boly, Nicolò Savona, and John Victor all out due to knee issues. Top scorer Chris Wood will also miss the match, while goalkeeper Matz Sels is dealing with a groin problem, leading to Stefan Ortega starting in goal. Fortunately, the team emerged from their recent victory in Turkey without any new injuries.
Liverpool
Liverpool’s Jeremie Frimpong will not make the trip as he continues to recover from a muscle injury. Wataru Endo is expected to be out for an extended period after being stretchered off against Sunderland, joining long-term injuries Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak, and Giovanni Leoni. On a positive note, Joe Gomez is available to start following recent substitute appearances.
Form
Nottingham Forest
Though winless recently, Forest has proved hard to defeat, losing just one of their last six Premier League matches. They celebrated an impressive 3–0 victory over Fenerbahçe, following a period of three consecutive home league draws. However, they have faced challenges scoring this season, failing to find the net in 12 league games—only bottom-side Wolves have a poorer record. Still, Forest is unbeaten in their last three games against Liverpool.
Liverpool
The Reds have shown improvement, winning four of their last five matches in all competitions, including a notable 3–0 win over Brighton in the FA Cup. Their league form has been inconsistent, but they secured a vital 1–0 victory at Sunderland in their last away match, halting the Black Cats’ unbeaten home run. Historically, Liverpool have struggled at the City Ground, winning just once in their last 15 league visits.
Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest Predicted XI: Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
How to Watch Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool?
The match will be aired live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage starting at 13:00 GMT on Sunday.
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