Liverpool and Nottingham Forest will go head-to-head in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday afternoon with both sides looking to get back on track after a difficult campaign so far.
Arne Slot‘s side have lost seven of their last ten games in all competitions, and were well beaten by Manchester City in their last outing before the international break. Sean Dyche’s outfit, on the other hand, claimed a vital win over Leeds United before the break, picking up just their second win of the season so far.
Both sides have got some injury concerns heading into the game too, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expects the teams to line up.
Liverpool Team News
The Reds are facing a bit of a defensive crisis after Slot confirmed that Conor Bradley has suffered a muscle injury while on international duty and will be absent for several weeks. Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni are both still missing too, leaving Liverpool with just five natural defenders available.
Florian Wirtz will also miss the next few games with a muscle problem, but Alisson and Alexander Isak are available following their recent injury troubles.
Liverpool Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Injury
Potential Return Date
Alisson Becker
Hamstring
22/11/2025
Alexander Isak
Groin
22/11/2025
Florian Wirtz
Muscle
29/11/2025
Jeremie Frimpong
Hamstring
20/12/2025
Conor Bradley
Muscle
20/12/2025
Giovanni Leoni
Knee
03/08/2026
Slot Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Slot shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
“Robbo [Andy Robertson] didn’t train for private reasons, but he will be with us today. Alisson [Becker] trained last week and this week so he will be able to play tomorrow if things work out well today again.
“But we do have some issues after the international break, unfortunately. Conor Bradley is unable to play, [and] Florian Wirtz is unable to play. That’s far from ideal. Both muscle issues.
“I don’t expect Conor to be part of the upcoming 22 days. Maybe in the end, but not in the [next] 22 days unless something like a miracle happens, which I don’t expect. Florian should be able to play after [Nottingham Forest], it depends on what happens after, but that shouldn’t be that long.
Jeremie is out just as long. He’s probably not going to be available in the upcoming two or three weeks as well. It’s going to be interesting who all of you want to see as a right full-back.
“Alex [Isak], now we were hoping [for] him to play a little bit more for the Swedish national team.
“Unfortunately, he was one yellow away from being suspended so for obvious reasons they didn’t play him the second time. But for us it would’ve been better if he had some minutes in the second game. I just told you about Conor and Florian. Jeremie [Frimpong] is out and Giovanni [Leoni] so we have at this moment in time five natural defenders – five players who have always played as a defender – available for seven games in 22 days and I don’t see anyone coming back before that.”
Liverpool Predicted XI
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Ekitike.
With so many injuries, Slot may be forced to move Szoboszlai back to right-back, which could see Curtis Jones come into the midfield. Hugo Ekitike should keep his place in the attack alongside Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo too. Alisson will also return in goal.
That should see £406,000-a-week duo Alexander Isak and Giorgi Mamardashvili on the bench, while Joe Gomez will also still be waiting for his opportunity from the start.
Florian Wirtz has been bearing the brunt of the heavy criticism coming Liverpool’s way this season – but it’s not fully deserved.
Nottingham Forest Team News
Sean Dyche is dealing with some injury concerns of his own, but he will be hoping to welcome back winger Callum Hudson-Odoi to his attacking options for this game. Striker Chris Wood, defender Oleksandr Zinchenko and midfielder Douglas Luiz are all still absent through injury too, but are hopeful or returning in the coming weeks.
Goalkeeper Angus Gunn is out with a knee problem, and Ola Aina remains a long-term absentee with a hamstring injury. Dilane Bakwa has missed the last six games in all competitions, but could return this weekend too.
Nottingham Forest Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Injury
Potential Return Date
Ola Aina
Hamstring
03/01/2026
Douglas Luiz
Hamstring
11/12/2025
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Adductor
03/12/2025
Chris Wood
Knee
30/11/2025
Dilane Bakwa
Other
22/11/2025
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Hamstring
22/11/2025
Angus Gunn
Knee
Unknown
Dyche Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Dyche shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
“Callum (Hudson-Odoi) is making good progress. He’s been on the grass with us this week, so he’s certainly a consideration.
“Chris (Wood) is getting rescanned, so we’re checking up on that, but it’s good news so far. That’s part of the process, there’s nothing untoward about that.
“Douglas (Luiz) is making progress, but it’s going to be about time. It’s not going to be instant.
“Angus Gunn is still recovering from a knee injury, again, sort of straightforward, but it’s going to take a bit of time. Zinchenko is with the sports science team and the physios, but not with us.”
With not much change to their injury situation, Nottingham Forest are likely to go with a similar lineup to the one that claimed victory over Leeds last time out. Hudson-Odoi should return in attack to replace defensive midfielder Nicolas Dominguez, to provide a counter-attack threat.
That should see £162,000-a-week duo Dilane Bakwa and Arnaud Kalimuendo on the bench once more to provide depth, while Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee continue to wait for an opportunity to prove themselves following their summer moves.
Liverpool have added Brighton and Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh to their transfer shortlist as a back-up option if they are unable to agree a deal for top winger target Yan Diomande, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.
The Reds have beaten Premier League rivals Newcastle United to the signature of the Spain international, who is currently representing his country at the 2026 World Cup and has already completed a medical in America.
The Merseyside outfit have identified the wide positions as a key area they need to strengthen in this summer transfer window, with two new players expected to arrive.
The transfer plan is of little surprise given the Reds are losing Mohamed Salah, while Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined with a serious long-term injury.
The left-sided Munoz is set to be the first through the door at Anfield, but now club chiefs want to sign Salah’s long-term successor too.
Jacobs: Liverpool Add Minteh to Transfer Shortlist
via Reuters
Liverpool are working hard on a deal to sign RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande, who they have identified as the top target to replace Salah.
The 19-year-old enjoyed a stunning breakthrough campaign for the Bundesliga club, and he has carried his club form into the World Cup by winning the man of the match award in his first-ever appearance at the tournament as the Ivory Coast beat Ecuador.
While Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola are near the top of the club’s wishlist, there are other names on there too, as revealed by Jacobs on the latest episode of GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast.
He said: “Diomande is the preference. Diomande is the one that Liverpool are working on, and it could develop as a consequence, but if it isn’t to be Diomande, I can give you some other targets.
“One, as we’ve known for quite some time, is Bradley Barcola and PSG, if they win the race for Yan Diomande, may suddenly become open to selling Barcola, even though, as of now, their stance is basically not for sale. But it’s not impossible if another player comes in that PSG’s perspective changes.
“Then there are some new names I can give you on the Liverpool shortlist as well. Said El Mala is one at Koln, Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh is another, and Lillle’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo is a third name. All three of those players are also on Liverpool’s radar and have been discussed and presented to new manager Andoni Iraola.”
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Pace is Key for Liverpool and Iraola
via Reuters
There is one thing that all of these key targets have in common, and it is their explosive pace.
Minteh has been recorded as one of the top 10 fastest players in the Premier League previously, and Dutch football writer Lentin Goodijk has described him as being ‘lightning quick’.
While Liverpool and Iraola have some good technical forwards to pick from right now, the Spaniard obviously feels that he wants to add some real speed to his attacking options as they look to significantly improve on their performances this season.
Whether it be Diomande, Minteh or any of the other names on the shortlist, Liverpool’s plan is clear.
Tottenham are bracing themselves for their transfer move to sign Sandro Tonali this summer to be hijacked by Manchester City.
Spurs have been one of the busier clubs already this summer, bringing in two new players on free transfers, as well as agreeing a deal for another.
Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson will link up with the Lilywhites from Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively after their World Cup adventures with Argentina and Scotland are over, while Jan Paul van Hecke looks set to arrive in a £52million deal from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Lewis Family vowed to invest in the Tottenham squad
Vivienne Lewis of the Lewis Family who are in charge of Tottenham Hotspur
Roberto De Zerbi and Spurs already mean business in the summer transfer window, with the Lewis Family vowing to back the Italian with investment into the squad.
GIVEMESPORT understands that the Spurs owners want to make a statement signing this summer and there are talks ongoing over a deal to bring Savinho to the club from Manchester City.
But any move for the forward would be surpassed by a transfer for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. Spurs burst to the front of the queue to sign the 26-year-old earlier this week when news emerged of a planned £80million to £85million move for the Italian.
Newcastle want in the region of £100million to sell the midfielder and there is a feeling around St James’ Park that he will depart the club this summer.
Tottenham are keen to get a deal over the line for Tonali to strengthen the middle of the park, with reports surfacing that the player is keen on the move to north London too.
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England World Cup Quiz
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But Spurs are not the only club interested in signing him this summer. Manchester United have been linked with a move, given their plan to sign two central midfielders this summer. Arsenal were linked in January, although a move never came to fruition and the Gunners could make another move this time around.
And then there’s Manchester City, who lost Bernardo Silva this week and could well say goodbye to Rodri too, with question marks over his future at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City aiming to bring in two midfielders this summer
Elliot Anderson waves to the Nottingham Forest fans
City’s attention for now, is on signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, with two bids of more than £100million already rejected by owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Any suggestion that City are only planning for one midfield arrival appear to be wide of the mark, however. GMS understands that City, like Spurs, are in talks to sign Tonali and Teamtalk reporter Graeme Bailey has gone even further in saying: “I am told City made it clear during the process that they don’t see Tonali as some sort of alternative to Elliot Anderson – ideally they want both.”
Tottenham may have thought they would have it all their own way in the race to sign Tonali with United put off by the price, City going all out for Anderson and Arsenal appearing to move for Manu Kone, but they may face a battle to complete the £100million deal after all.
Barcola to Arsenal, Sandro Tonali’s transfer race, England’s World Cup win and Brazil’s hopes all feature in this special Market Madness.
Kate Mason and Ben Jacobs are live as the World Cup gets underway and the transfer window heats up. GiveMeSport’s Sam Cohen sits down with Sir Geoff Hurst, England’s 1966 World Cup final hat-trick hero, to discuss what it really takes to win football’s biggest prize.
We also hear from Brazil and AC Milan legend Kaká on whether Brazil can finally end their long wait for World Cup glory.
Ben reacts to England’s opening World Cup win over Croatia and delivers the latest transfer updates in his weekly mailbag, including Barcola to Arsenal, Sandro Tonali interest from Spurs, Manchester City and Manchester United, Yan Diomande to Liverpool, Mateus Fernandes, Adam Wharton and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
