Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has spoken about Nottingham Forest's Premier League title chances ahead of the teams' big clash at the City Ground on Tuesday.
Forest are third in the Premier League, behind Arsenal in second place on goal difference and six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand on their rivals.
“I've always said that the best way to judge the table is mid-season. They're at the top, so they're definitely a team that competes with us and the others,” Slot said at his pre-match press conference.
“If you look at the way they play and their results, it is deserved. It will be a very difficult challenge for us to get a result.”
Forest are the only team to beat Liverpool in the league this season, having won 1-0 at Anfield in September thanks to a second-half goal from Callum Hudson-Odoi.
They come into this match on a seven-match winning streak in all competitions, having conceded just one goal in that period. According to Slot, their shape and position are no fluke.
“They have already shown afterwards how good a team they are. When Liverpool lose a home game it is something you don't expect,” he said.
“It was hard for us to lose that day. When we look back now and see where they are in the league, it's not as much of a shock as it was then.
“They had a good game plan and I expect their wingers, who have done so well, will be in their starting XI tomorrow.”
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Forest coach Nuno Espirito Santo, meanwhile, was pleased his men could keep up the momentum with a 2-0 win over Luton Town in the FA Cup on Saturday.
“It was good. It was important for all the players to play and for us to reward them,” he said.
“They had a great time, playing at the City Ground. For many of them it was the first time playing together, but overall it was a job done in a very professional manner.
“It is very important to keep the momentum, spirit and habit going. It's always nice when we go to tomorrow with a smile and prepare for a tough match. When we are happy, it is easier.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood
Wood is having the season of his life at Nottingham Forest and has scored twelve league goals so far.
The New Zealand international is the sixth highest goalscorer in the Premier League this season and has scored two in his last two.
Liverpool-Mohamed Salah
Salah has declared himself Player of the Season after being directly involved in 31 league goals (18G 13A) this season.
He averages 0.97 goals per 90 minutes and has scored five times in his last four league matches.
MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last fifteen league games (W11 D4), helping them open a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with one game in hand.
The visitors also won this exact match 1-0 last season, ending a 13-match winless run-away against Nottingham Forest (D7 L6).
They have also scored at least twice in each of their last twelve Premier League games, their second longest streak, having done so in 15 consecutive games between March and September 2019. They clinched the title after that run ended in 2019 . -20.
While Nottingham Forest inflicted Liverpool's first defeat of the season, they are winless in their remaining five matches against teams currently in the top seven of the Premier League (D2 L3).
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Nottingham Forest – 23%
Draw – 23.2%
Liverpool – 53.8%
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