Liverpool host Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday 29 August in what promises to be a defining early-season test, as new manager Andoni Iraola faces his first genuine Premier League home examination with the Reds. This Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest preview carries extra weight: a side searching for an identity, a stadium hungry for wins, and visitors who have historically been no strangers to causing upsets on Merseyside.
Source: Liverpool FC official website (liverpoolfc.com)
A New Era Under Andoni Iraola
The appointment of Andoni Iraola from Bournemouth last summer was met with cautious optimism, and the Spaniard has wasted no time imposing his aggressive, front-foot philosophy on the squad. Replacing Arne Slot — who was sacked following a deeply underwhelming 2025-26 campaign that saw Liverpool finish a dispiriting fifth — Iraola brings an intensity and tactical clarity that many at Anfield have been craving.
Liverpool’s opening few weeks have not been seamless. The Reds drew 2-2 with Newcastle United in their previous outing, coming from behind twice through Cody Gakpo and a 99th-minute Dominik Szoboszlai penalty. It was the kind of result that underlined both the spirit in the squad and the defensive frailties Iraola must address. Saturday’s match against Forest offers a chance to show that the lessons from that dramatic evening have been absorbed.
Iraola spoke candidly at his pre-match press conference: the transfers window, the balance of the squad, and the precise shape he wants Liverpool to adopt have all been discussed at length. The Champions League draw earlier this week added another layer of focus to a week that has felt very much like a proper return to big-game football at L4. Read more about Liverpool’s GW3 weekend in our Premier League GW3 weekend preview.
Nottingham Forest — Dangerous Visitors Under Glasner
Nottingham Forest have started the new season quietly under new manager Oliver Glasner, who took over in Nottingham during the summer rebuild. A 1-0 home defeat to Leeds United on the opening day was hardly the statement Glasner would have wanted, but the Austrian is known for his ability to organise compact, disciplined defensive structures that can be stubborn on the road.
What makes Forest particularly interesting — and concerning for Liverpool — is their remarkable record at Anfield. Since returning to the Premier League in 2022, Forest have won more games at Anfield than any other visiting side. Three wins at L4 in four years is a genuinely impressive return and speaks to a mental resilience that Glasner will be keen to tap into.
Source: Liverpool FC official website (liverpoolfc.com)
Key Players: Szoboszlai vs Gibbs-White
Dominik Szoboszlai has already demonstrated his value to Iraola’s system, contributing to 11 goals across his last 16 league appearances (five goals, six assists). His engine, his pressing work and his late runs into the penalty area make him uniquely difficult to contain. Against a Forest midfield that will be working to condense central spaces, Szoboszlai’s ability to find pockets of room could be the difference.
For Forest, the danger man is Morgan Gibbs-White. The England international has scored or assisted three of his side’s last six Premier League goals at Anfield — a remarkable stat that underlines his affinity for the fixture. Glasner will almost certainly build his offensive plan around Gibbs-White’s intelligence between the lines and his ability to thread through a Liverpool high line.
Liverpool have strengthened significantly this summer, with the £60m signing of Jeremy Jacquet adding quality in defence. Whether Jacquet features from the start or not, the back line will need to be organised against Gibbs-White’s movement and any quick Forest transitions.
Team News and Injury Concerns
Liverpool head into Saturday with notable injury concerns. Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitiké, Joe Gomez, Jayden Danns and Giovanni Leoni are all ruled out, while Curtis Jones carries a groin issue and is touch-and-go. It is a significant absentee list for a team still finding its rhythm, and it will test Iraola’s squad depth earlier than he might have hoped.
Nottingham Forest are without Nicolo Savona and Ryan Yates, but Glasner otherwise has a reasonably settled group to pick from. Expect the visitors to be compact, physical and ready to hit Liverpool on the counter whenever the opportunity arises.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Our Verdict
Anfield on a Saturday afternoon carries a particular electricity, and Iraola’s brand of pressing football should suit a home crowd hungry for commitment and energy. Liverpool’s firepower, even with injury absences, ought to be enough to see off a Forest side still finding its footing under a new manager.
However, Forest’s record at Anfield and Gibbs-White’s quality in front of goal mean this is no gimme. The Reds will need to be disciplined defensively and clinical in front of goal — two things that have not always been consistent in the early weeks.
Predicted score: Liverpool 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest kicks off at 12:30 BST (19:30 SGT) on Saturday 29 August 2026 at Anfield. For more Premier League coverage, visit our Sports section.
