Liverpool travel to the City Stadium on Sunday knowing we need points in the Champions League race, and Opta’s latest predictions suggest Arne Slott’s side have a slight edge, although the underlying backdrop makes this feel anything but simple.
Opta analysts’ preview looks ahead to the weekend’s Premier League action, stating “The odds of Arne Slaughter’s side winning at the City Stadium on Sunday [is] 51%” And Nottingham Forest has been given “The chance of winning is 25.7%.”
advertise
That number means we should be close to that, but it also reminds us that our relationship with the land isn’t exactly friendly within the Alliance.
Opta also pointed out that Liverpool have won just one of their last 15 away games against Forest, drawing eight and losing six, with the only win coming via a Darwin Nunez header in March 2024.
Opta Predictions Liverpool vs Forest
(Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
These odds tie in awkwardly with what happened when Forest came to Anfield earlier this season, when BBC Sport described a defeat “Awkward” Sean Dyche’s side broke through easily to win 3-0.
advertise
In that earlier meeting, Slott also spoke of how Forest’s constant reset has complicated preparations as Vito Pereira is already the club’s fourth manager of the season.
“At the time, it was Dyche’s third or fourth game. It made it more difficult. We only had tonight [Forest’s Europa League match at Fenerbahce] Let’s see if the new manager makes any personnel changes. “
Liverpool’s forest task feels tougher than numbers suggest
(Photo by Sean Botterill/Getty Images)
Forest came into the team full of confidence after their Europa League first-leg win over Fenerbahce, and that feeling of “bouncing back with a new coach” was always a factor when their opponents were free to play and try to prove themselves in their first league game with a fresh voice.
advertise
Meanwhile, Slaughter is considering his options again, with injuries still weighing in on our options.
“Jeremy won’t be playing this weekend. If everything goes to plan, we hope he will be able to play next week.
“I think Joe is ready to get started [against Forest]. Yes, he is. “
So, Opta are our favorites and our spirits are lifted after wins over Sunderland and Brighton, but the numbers don’t remove the warning signs surrounding the City Stadium record, Forest’s recent games against us and the unpredictability that comes with another managerial change.
If we are to win this weekend, it might look less like a routine away game and more like a controlled, ruthless performance that refuses to let Forest’s momentum become the story again.
Download the official KOP Empire app to get all the latest and biggest updates – straight to your phone! ON APPLE AND GOOGLE PLAY
