Head-to-Head Summary
Historically, encounters between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest have leaned toward the Reds, though Forest have proven to be a stubborn opponent since returning to the top flight. Across 124 all-time competitive meetings, Liverpool have claimed 61 victories, while Nottingham Forest have secured 33 wins alongside 30 draws.
While Liverpool hold a near 50% historical win rate in this matchup, Forest have achieved notable success in recent Premier League encounters, including memorable wins at both the City Ground and Anfield. However, Liverpool's overall quality and home strength at Anfield consistently make them a formidable force in this historic matchup.
Last 10 Meetings
A review of the last 10 competitive fixtures demonstrates how competitive this matchup has become in modern top-flight football:
22 Feb 2026 | Premier League | Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool
22 Nov 2025 | Premier League | Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
14 Jan 2025 | Premier League | Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool
14 Sep 2024 | Premier League | Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
02 Mar 2024 | Premier League | Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool
29 Oct 2023 | Premier League | Liverpool 3-0 Nottingham Forest
22 Apr 2023 | Premier League | Liverpool 3-2 Nottingham Forest
22 Oct 2022 | Premier League | Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool
20 Mar 2022 | FA Cup | Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool
05 Apr 1999 | Premier League | Nottingham Forest 2-2 Liverpool
In their most recent clash on February 22, 2026 at the City Ground, Alexis Mac Allister scored a dramatic 97th-minute winner to seal a 1-0 victory for Liverpool.
Liverpool Current Form
Liverpool enter Matchweek 2 seeking their first three points of the 2026/27 campaign. The Reds opened their Premier League season with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St. James' Park, showcasing dynamic attacking play alongside moments of defensive vulnerability in transition.
Prior to the domestic campaign, Liverpool completed a high-scoring pre-season schedule featuring a 4-2 win over Leeds United and a 3-2 victory against AS Monaco. With key summer additions integrated into the squad, Liverpool will aim to establish control at Anfield early and impose their pressing rhythm.
Nottingham Forest Current Form
Nottingham Forest travel to Anfield attempting to break out of an early-season slump. Forest suffered a 1-0 setback against Leeds United on Matchweek 1, followed by a 2-0 midweek defeat to Leeds in the EFL Cup second round.
Having failed to find the net in their opening two competitive fixtures, Forest's primary objective will be sharpening their execution in the final third. However, Forest can draw confidence from their recent away trip to Anfield in November 2025, where they produced a stunning 3-0 victory over the Reds.
Liverpool Team News and Injuries
Liverpool manage a relatively healthy squad heading into their home opener:
Alexis Mac Allister: Fully fit after his goalscoring exploits in opening week and in this exact fixture last season.
Mohamed Salah & Cody Gakpo: Both key attackers are available to lead the frontline.
Virgil van Dijk & Ibrahima Konaté: Expected to pair up in central defense to anchor Liverpool's backline.
Nottingham Forest Team News and Injuries
Nottingham Forest face a few squad management decisions following mid-week cup rotation:
Morgan Gibbs-White: Fully fit to lead the central midfield creative duties.
Ola Aina & Neco Williams: Available to occupy the full-back positions.
Callum Hudson-Odoi: Expected to feature on the wing to provide counter-attacking width.
Tactical Match Analysis
This Matchweek 2 matchup features a clear tactical contrast between Liverpool's high-intensity, possession-dominant style and Nottingham Forest's compact defensive transition setup. Liverpool are expected to line up in a fluid 4-3-3 shape, utilizing deep midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch to dictate tempo and recycle second balls. The Reds will focus on overloading the wide channels to create crossing opportunities for their frontline.
Nottingham Forest will likely set up in a low 4-2-3-1 or 5-4-1 defensive block, prioritizing central compaction via Ibrahim Sangaré and Elliot Anderson. Forest's main route to goal will rely on direct counter-attacks launched through Morgan Gibbs-White toward wide runners Callum Hudson-Odoi and Dan Ndoye. Neutralizing Liverpool's initial 20-minute wave of home pressure will be critical for Forest's gameplan.
Key Players to Watch
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool): The Argentine midfielder scored the dramatic 97th-minute winner in the last meeting between these teams and dictates Liverpool's tempo in transition.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): A constant threat at Anfield whose movement and link-up play in the right half-space pull opposition center-backs out of position.
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest): The creative engine for Forest, whose vision and line-breaking passes are essential to launching effective counter-attacks.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest): Brings pace and direct dribbling to Forest's left flank, posing a dynamic threat during transition moments.
What the Numbers Tell Us
H2H Record: Liverpool have won 61 of the 124 historical meetings between the two clubs.
Recent Meeting: Liverpool claimed a 1-0 victory at the City Ground in their last head-to-head encounter in February 2026.
Forest Goal Drought: Nottingham Forest have failed to score in their opening two competitive matches of the 2026/27 season.
Anfield Upset: Forest secured a 3-0 victory on their last Premier League visit to Anfield in November 2025.
Who Has the Advantage?
Evaluating squad depth, home advantage, and recent form gives Liverpool a clear statistical edge heading into Matchweek 2. Playing in front of a full capacity Anfield crowd provides a major boost for the Reds as they search for their first victory of the season.
While Nottingham Forest have shown an ability to frustrate Liverpool in past encounters, evidenced by their victory at Anfield in late 2025, their current goalscoring drought and back-to-back defeats make this a challenging test. Liverpool's superior attacking depth makes them strong favorites to take all three points.
Conclusion
Matchweek 2 of the 2026/27 Premier League season brings a classic fixture to Anfield as Liverpool host Nottingham Forest. The Reds carry home momentum and attacking quality as they look to build on their opening-day draw and claim their first three points. While Forest possess the counter-attacking elements to cause problems if Liverpool leave space behind, the hosts' statistical advantage and squad strength make them heavy favorites to emerge victorious.