Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Prediction: Reds to edge Anfield encounter

Liverpool were humbled 3-0 at Manchester City just before the international break, so Arne Slot will be looking for his side to issue a positive response at Anfield on Saturday (15:00 GMT) when they host Nottingham Forest, who secured a first Premier League victory under Sean Dyche last time out at home to Leeds United (3-1).

Below are my Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz are ruled out of Saturday’s game with muscle injuries, joining Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) and Giovanni Leoni (knee) in the treatment room.

Andy Robertson missed training earlier this week due to a private matter, but he’s expected to be involved in the squad on Saturday, joined by Alisson Becker, who hasn’t played since September 30.

Football Odds

Chris Wood, Angus Gunn (both knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (hip), Dilane Bakwa (unspecified), Ola Aina and Douglas Luiz (both thigh) are missing for Nottingham Forest, alongside ex-Reds striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who has also picked up an unspecified problem.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Odds

Liverpool are 4/9 to return to winning ways on Saturday, implying a 69.2% probability of success, while Forest are 6/1, or a 14.3% chance, to triumph on their league travels for the first time this season, with the draw priced at 18/5.

Betfred's Price Boosts for this game include Mohamed Salah to Score the First Goal at 9/2 (was 4/1).

Player to Have 1 or More Shots - Nikola Milenkovic (NFO) @ 11/10

Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic averaged 0.8 shots per game in last season's Premier League, and while his average has dropped down to 0.6 after 11 matches this term, he's still posting solid numbers for a centre-back, particularly for a team that are in the relegation zone.

The 28-year-old has recorded at least one effort in half (three) of his last six league games, racking up five across that period, with three coming in one match, a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea on October 18.

Today's Football Fixtures

Milenkovic also tried his luck in Forest's latest Uefa Europa League game, the goalless draw at Sturm Graz on November 6.

Liverpool have looked suspect in defence this season, and at least one opposition centre-back has recorded a shot in four of their last five home matches.

Match Result & Total Goals Over/Under 3.5 - Liverpool & Under 3.5 @ 11/8

Liverpool have been in defensive disarray this season, and they shipped three goals last time out as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at the Etihad.

To their credit, though, the Reds have kept back-to-back clean sheets at Anfield this month, beating Aston Villa 2-0 in the Premier League on November 1 before edging Real Madrid out 1-0 in the Uefa Champions League three days later.

Still, it would take a brave person to back Slot's side to record another home shutout on Saturday, especially as Forest have scored five goals across their last two league games, holding Manchester United to a 2-2 draw on November 1 before beating Leeds United 3-1 eight days later.

Sean Dyche looks to have turned the tide at the City Ground, losing just one of his first five matches in charge (W2, D2, L1), but the Garibaldi have blanked in both of his away games, losing 2-0 to Bournemouth in the Premier League and drawing 0-0 with Sturm Graz in the Europa League.

Considering Forest's injury list, with Wood, in particular, a big miss if he doesn't make it, I think Liverpool can edge this encounter at Anfield.

A Liverpool Win to Nil may appeal at 13/8, but I'm applying more caution with a home win and under 3.5 goals at 11/8.

Liverpool have won seven games at Anfield in all competitions this season, and this has been a winning selection in five of them, including the last two, while all three of Forest's Premier League away defeats this term have featured three or fewer goals. Their other two also went under 3.5 goals as they drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace and Burnley.