On Saturday, November 22, 2025, Liverpool will welcome Nottingham Forest to Anfield in a make-or-break Premier League fixture that could define both clubs’ seasons. Kickoff is set for 15:00 local time — a 10:00 AM Eastern Time start — with the Reds desperate to halt their slide down the table and the Forest clinging to survival hopes. It’s not just another match. It’s the moment Liverpool’s season either turns around or spirals further into chaos.
Why This Match Matters More Than the Table Suggests
Liverpool, once the dominant force in English football, now sits eighth — their lowest position after 11 matchdays in over a decade. Dutch manager Arne Slot inherited a squad built for European glory, but the Premier League has exposed cracks. Just one win in their last five league games? That’s not a blip. That’s a crisis. Their 1-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid offered temporary relief, but the 4-1 thrashing by Manchester City two weeks prior still stings. Fans aren’t just worried about European qualification anymore — they’re wondering if this is the start of a deeper decline.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest, under Irish tactician Sean Dyche, have become a nightmare for top teams. After winning just one of their first nine league games, they’ve erupted: four points from their last two matches, including a stunning 3-1 demolition of Leeds United that generated 2.47 expected goals — more than they’d scored in their previous nine games combined. They’re now just one point from safety. And here’s the twist: last season, they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield. That result still echoes in the dressing room.
The Numbers Don’t Lie — But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Statistically, this should be a rout. Liverpool have won 60 of their 122 all-time meetings with Forest. In their last seven Premier League clashes, the Reds have taken four wins, two losses, and one draw. Dimers.com’s simulations give Liverpool a 74% chance of victory. The moneyline odds? -220 for Liverpool, +600 for Forest. The over/under is set at 2.5 goals — and every major predictor, from Scores24.live to Football Predictions.com, agrees on one thing: 2-1 to Liverpool.
But here’s what the numbers miss: Forest’s new identity. Dyche has turned them into a disciplined, counter-attacking unit. They don’t need possession. They need space. And they’ve found it. Their last two matches saw them score five goals — matching their output from the first nine. Their away record? Still winless (0-1-1), but they’re no longer just surviving. They’re threatening.
Liverpool’s defense, meanwhile, remains vulnerable to crosses and long balls — the exact style Dyche’s Forest employ. Their last three home games have seen them concede in each, including a 2-2 draw with Brentford. And while their home form is better than away (2.00 points per game vs. 1.20 overall), it’s not the fortress it once was.
Injuries, Tactics, and the Mental Edge
Forest’s injury list is concerning: striker Chris Wood and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi are both doubtful, while defender Ola Aina remains sidelined. That’s a blow to their attacking options. But Dyche has shown he can adapt. He’ll likely deploy a compact 5-4-1, with the pace of Philippe Clement and Adam Armstrong on the break.
Liverpool’s midfield — anchored by Dominik Szoboszlai and Gravesen — will dominate possession, but that’s not always an advantage. Forest have averaged just 3.2 corners per away game — the worst in the league — yet they’ve still managed to score from set pieces. And if Liverpool’s fullbacks push too high, Dyche’s counter-attacks could punish them.
And then there’s the psychological factor. Liverpool haven’t forgotten last season’s loss at Anfield. Players have said in interviews that the Forest game still haunts them. That’s not just motivation — it’s obsession. Slot knows this. He’s been pushing his squad to treat this as a reset. But obsession can backfire. Over-eagerness leads to rash decisions. And Forest, playing with nothing to lose, thrive on chaos.
What to Watch For: The Real Story Behind the Scoreline
Don’t be fooled by the 2-1 prediction. The game won’t be decided in the 70th minute. It’ll be decided in the 88th. That’s when Forest’s patience pays off — or Liverpool’s frustration breaks.
Both Teams To Score? Almost certain. Forest have scored in six of their last seven games. Liverpool have conceded in five of their last six. The expected goals (xG) models favor Liverpool, but Forest’s efficiency is rising. Their last match saw them convert 2.47 xG into three goals — a 122% conversion rate. That’s elite.
Expect Liverpool to dominate possession — 65% or more. But expect Forest to take four or five shots on target. Corner count? Liverpool should win the battle, likely 8-4. But don’t bet on the -3 handicap. Forest rarely lose that badly on corners, even away.
What’s Next? The Ripple Effect
If Liverpool win, they jump into the top six. The pressure eases. Slot gets breathing room. But if Forest hold them to a draw — or worse, win — it sends shockwaves through the league. The Reds’ title hopes would be all but dead. And Forest? They’d be a legitimate survival story — one of the greatest turnarounds in Premier League history.
For Forest, this is more than points. It’s belief. They’ve gone from relegation candidates to team that can beat anyone on their day. For Liverpool, it’s a reckoning. The era of dominance may be over. Or maybe, just maybe, this is the spark.
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Sean Dyche transformed Nottingham Forest’s performance?
Under Dyche, Forest shifted from a possession-based system to a direct, high-pressing, counter-attacking style. Their goals have surged — five in their last two games, matching their total from the previous nine. Their defensive structure has tightened, and they’ve earned four points from their last two matches, moving within one point of safety. Dyche’s tactical clarity has given players confidence, turning them from relegation fodder into a team that can beat anyone on their day.
Why is Liverpool’s form so poor despite their Champions League win?
The Champions League win over Real Madrid was morale-boosting, but it masked deeper issues: inconsistent midfield control, defensive lapses against direct play, and a lack of clinical finishing in the Premier League. Arne Slot’s system, designed for European dominance, hasn’t translated well to the physicality and pace of England’s top flight. Their last five league games have yielded just one win, and they’ve conceded in four of them — including a 4-1 thrashing by Manchester City.
What are the key injury concerns for Nottingham Forest?
Striker Chris Wood and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi are both doubtful, which weakens Forest’s attacking threat. Defender Ola Aina remains sidelined, leaving a gap in their backline. While Dyche has shown adaptability, losing Wood — their most reliable finisher — could force Forest into a more cautious approach, potentially reducing their goal-scoring output despite their improved form.
Is a 2-1 scoreline realistic given Liverpool’s home advantage?
Yes. Multiple prediction models, including Scores24.live and Football Predictions.com, agree on 2-1. Liverpool’s home form is solid (lww), but their defense remains leaky against direct attacks. Forest’s recent surge — scoring five goals in two games — proves they can finish chances. The match is likely to be tight until the 80th minute, with Liverpool’s pressure eventually breaking Forest’s resistance — but not without conceding.
What does this match mean for the Premier League relegation battle?
A Forest win or draw would catapult them into the top half of the relegation zone, making survival far more realistic. With only five points separating 17th from 10th, every point matters. For Liverpool, a loss would deepen the crisis — potentially pushing them into the bottom half of the table by Christmas. It’s a game that could define both clubs’ trajectories in the second half of the season.
Why are experts predicting Both Teams To Score (BTTS) as "Yes"?
Liverpool have conceded in five of their last six league games, while Forest have scored in six of their last seven. Forest’s recent form shows they can score against top sides — they netted three against Leeds, a team with a top-five defense. Liverpool’s fullbacks push high, leaving space behind. Forest’s counter-attacks, led by Armstrong and Clement, are sharp enough to exploit it. BTTS has hit in four of Forest’s last five away games and five of Liverpool’s last six at home.
