Slot not worried about managerial change at Forest

Arne Slot insisted that Liverpool usually are not fazed by Nottingham Forest’s change in head coach forward of their journey to the Metropolis Floor on Sunday.

The Reds are at present three factors off the Premier League prime 4 in sixth, and adopted up a 1-0 win over Sunderland with a 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Brighton.

Liverpool misplaced 3-0 within the reverse fixture to Forest at Anfield in what was one in all Sean Dyche’s first few video games in cost.

With Vitor Pereira now on the helm, and beginning his reign with a 3-0 win over Fenerbahce, Slot anticipates a distinct problem.

“Again then [in November]they have been in a distinct administration as nicely, as a result of I believe it was Sean Dyche’s third or fourth sport,” mentioned Slot.

“That generally makes it a little bit bit harder as a result of we solely have tonight to see if this supervisor adjustments personnel, adjustments techniques.

“The nice factor is that there’s nonetheless one sport to be performed earlier than we play them, and we, after all, know him as a result of he labored final season within the Premier League as nicely.

“So, we all know what we will anticipate if we play Forest as a result of I’ve performed them thrice already.”

Learn Arne Slot’s #NFOLIV preview as he seems forward to the problem of taking up Nottingham Forest underneath their new head coach

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 19, 2026

This will probably be Pereira’s first league sport in command of Nottingham Forest. The final six Forest managers have misplaced their first Premier League sport on the membership, with Dave Bassett the final to keep away from that destiny in March 1997 (1-0 versus Tottenham).

Pereira’s facet have been very dominant in opposition to Fenerbahce within the Europa League, with the previous Wolves boss capable of relaxation key gamers at 3-0 up.

Morgan Gibbs-White was one of many scorers in that win, and he defined why they made a superb begin underneath Pereira.

“His message to us is that we’ll have an actual identification how we play and defend as a staff. We’ve got all purchased into what he desires right away,” Gibbs-White informed TNT Sports activities after the win.

“It’s about continue to learn off one another and take it sport by sport.

“We’ve got been going by means of a troublesome time. Confidence is the principle factor, and [that result] will increase confidence. We simply have to remain collectively and be probably the most full staff.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nottingham Forest – Morgan Gibbs-White

Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Gibbs-White have been heading in the right direction for Forest of their 3-0 win in opposition to Liverpool in November.

Solely two Forest gamers have scored house and away objectives in opposition to the Reds in a Premier League marketing campaign – Dougie Freedman in 1998-99 and Steve Stone in 1995-96.

Liverpool – Mohamed Salah

In opposition to Sunderland final day out, Mohamed Salah recorded his 92nd Premier League help for Liverpool, the joint-most of any participant for the membership, tying Steven Gerrard.

The Egyptian, nevertheless, has neither scored nor assisted in his two appearances on the Metropolis Floor within the competitors, one in all simply two venues he has performed at greater than as soon as within the league for Liverpool with no aim involvement (additionally three appearances at Bramall Lane).

MATCH PREDICTION – LIVERPOOL WIN

Liverpool have gained simply three of their final 11 Premier League away video games (D3 L5). Nevertheless, they did finish Sunderland’s unbeaten house run final day out, and need to win consecutively on the street for the primary time since September.

Forest have failed to attain in 12 Premier League video games this season, with solely backside facet Wolves failing to internet in additional. Two of Forest’s final 5 Premier League video games have completed 0-0, as many goalless attracts as of their earlier 124 video games within the competitors.

Forest have drawn every of their final three house league video games. They final had 4 consecutive attracts on the Metropolis Floor in November-December 1998, the final time they have been relegated from the Premier League.

Liverpool have gained simply one in all their final 15 away league video games in opposition to Forest (D8 L6), beating them 1-0 in March 2024 due to a late Darwin Nunez strike.

Forest are additionally unbeaten of their final three league video games in opposition to Liverpool (W2 D1), final having an extended run in opposition to them between September 1962 and September 1963 (W3 D1).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nottingham Forest – 27.7%

Draw – 24.1%

Liverpool – 48.2%