Game Week 27 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Forest

Premier League preview: Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool – Reds chase top-4 after Sunderland win, Forest buoyed by Europa upset; Liverpool to win.

Nottingham Forest beat Liverpool 3-0 in the reverse fixture, the Reds will look to return the favors on Sunday. How will this one pan out at the City Ground? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Nottingham Forest vs. Liverpool

City Ground

3:00 pm

Liverpool must be excited to take on this challenge after watching Aston Villa and Chelsea drop points on Saturday. They must benefit from slip-ups around them.

With Manchester United visiting Everton on Monday, Liverpool could move level on points with the Red Devils and Chelsea with a win at the City Ground while looking up to Aston Villa, who were held at home by Leeds United on Saturday.

Nottingham Forest went to Turkey to take on Fenerbahce in the playoffs of the Europa League. Not a lot of people gave the Premier League strugglers any chance, as it was also Vitor Pereira's first game in charge after the sacking of Sean Dyche.

Forest, lying in 17th on the log in the Premier League, beat Fenerbahce, a team sitting 2nd in the Turkish top flight. It says a lot about the quality of the Premier League; however, a 3-0 win away from home was unprecedented.

It's safe to say Forest is in the Round of 16 of the Europa League, as one doesn't expect Domenico Tedesco's side to overturn the result in England next Thursday. Forest can concentrate on this one without losing sleep about the second leg.

Liverpool became the first team in the Premier League this season to travel to the Stadium of Light and return with three points. It's a huge opportunity for them to build on that sensational result this weekend; they must beat Forest.

Vitor Pereira is a good manager. His exploits at Wolves were phenomenal last season. While the Portuguese was fired earlier in the season, Wolves' situation hasn't improved in any way since then.

How will Nottingham Forest approach this? You don't change a winning team. One expects Vitor Pereira to return with the same eleven that destroyed the Turkish side on Thursday. They will trouble the champions.

Liverpool has rich options upfront. Alexander Isak is still unavailable, but word is that he has started working on grass and could be available within the next two weeks; until then, Hugo Ekitike will continue to lead the line for the Reds.

Mohammed Salah hasn't been the same, but Nottingham Forest will not take chances with him. He will start on the right, with Ola Aina standing next to him; that's a battle we love to see.

The midfield battle will be key. Liverpool needs this result to level with Chelsea and United, while Forest needs this game to steer further clear of West Ham as they hope to beat the drop. This game will be tough.

Verdict: Liverpool to win.