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Arne Slot is yet to beat Nottingham Forest since he moved to Liverpool in the summer of 2024, but the Reds could really do with the points this weekend as the race for the Champions League spots heats up.
Last season, Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas combined off the bench to rescue a point at the City Ground, while Nuno Espirito Santo and Sean Dyche have overseen victories at Anfield, including a 3-0 win earlier this season.
With another new head coach in charge, Liverpool cannot be sure exactly what to expect from Nottingham Forest. But on Thursday, as the Tricky Trees beat Fenerbahce 3-0 in Turkey, there were some hints.
Vitor Pereira, who masterminded a Wolves escape from relegation last season, played Callum Hudson-Odoi and Omari Hutchinson out wide and unleashed Morgan Gibbs-White, who impressed as the number 10 behind Igor Jesus.
Slot can probably expect to see a similar 4-2-3-1 system deployed in the East Midlands on Sunday. Elliot Anderson only played 67 minutes and should therefore be refreshed.
Injury-wise, back-up goalkeeper John Victor picked up a knee injury against Aston Villa last month and remains out, while Matz Sels is also sidelined. Stefan Ortega will be between the sticks.
Elsewhere, defenders Willy Boly and Nicolo Savona are both out. Striker Chris Wood, who was so impressive last season, has missed most of this campaign and is still missing.
"Back then [when Liverpool played Nottingham Forest in November], they were in a different management as well, because I think it was Sean Dyche's third or fourth game," Slot said on Thursday.
"That sometimes makes it a little bit more difficult because we only have tonight to see if this manager changes personnel, changes tactics.
"The good thing is that there is still one game to be played before we play them and we, of course, know him because he worked last season in the Premier League as well.
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"But usually you would also adapt to the players you have. Although managers have a preferred playing style, you take into account which players you have as well. So, let's see.
"It was a difficult game for us in the beginning of the season — although, again, I'm going to say the same in that the first half-hour was very, very good from us, [with] chance after chance.
"Then we conceded a set-piece and the game went completely the opposite way. So, we know what we can expect if we play Forest because I've played them three times already."
Liverpool.com says: This is going to be a very hard game for the Reds. The stadium will be lively and Nottingham Forest is a better team than it showed under Dyche. Pereira will give everyone a lift.
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