Alan Shearer warns Liverpool as he predicts Nottingham Forest result

The former striker feels Vitor Pereira's arrival at Nottingham Forest will make Sunday's game at the City Ground even more challenging for Liverpool in its battle to secure a Champions League place

Alan Shearer has predicted Liverpool will win a tricky fixture at Nottingham Forest(Image: Getty Images)

Alan Shearer has predicted Liverpool will emerge from a tough assignment at Nottingham Forest with all three points.

The Midlands club is locked in the grips of a relegation battle and currently sits three points clear of 18th-place West Ham United, and recently sacked head coach Sean Dyche after a downward turn in results. Vitor Pereira, Dyche’s replacement, began his tenure with a 3-0 win at Fenerbahce on Thursday, and his first home game this weekend is expected to inspire in an intense atmosphere at the City Ground.

Shearer feels that will make Sunday’s game difficult, but he expects the Premier League champions to build on their consecutive victories from last week.

“Nottingham Forest has had a change of manager and it was a huge decision which sort of came out of the blue,” the former Newcastle United star told Betfair.

“But I think Liverpool look as if they've got some sort of normality back, so I’ll go for an away win.

“I think it'll be between Nottingham Forest and West Ham for who does take that third relegation place.

“I don't see Forest getting anything this weekend. I think they'll make it tough but not have enough on the day.

Forest earned a superb victory in Istanbul on Thursday(Image: Getty Images)

“I think, as Arsenal found it tough, [Manchester] City found it tough there as well, and Liverpool will as well because I think Vitor Pereira will get a great reception and the City Ground will be rocking. However, I think the form that Liverpool are in, they'll just have too much.”

Despite Forest’s lowly position in the league and recent poor performances against Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the former European champions are unbeaten in their last four home games.

That includes a goalless draw against Arsenal last month.

Pereira is Forest's fourth head coach of the season(Image: Getty Images)

Pereira is the club’s fourth permanent head coach of the season, after the dismal of Nuno Espirito Santo in September and the short tenures of Ange Postecoglou and Dyche.

Arne Slot also has a disappointing record against Forest and has failed to win any of his previous three meetings. Liverpool lost 3-0 at home when the sides last met in November, but the Reds have only been beaten twice in the league since then.

Confidence is high after impressive performances against Sunderland Brighton & Hove Albion last week, and Liverpool will hope to close the gap to Manchester United and Chelsea in the battle for the Champions League places.