Who: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest What: English Premier League Where: Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom When: Saturday, August 29, at 12:30pm ( ) How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the buildup from ahead of our live text commentary stream Both sides are looking for their first wins of the season, as Liverpool host Forest at Anfield. Liverpool struggled in their first competitive game under new boss Andoni Iraola, although they battled to come back from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle. The Reds are still hoping to bolster their rather threadbare squad and are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign French forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, Forest have lost their first two games of the season as they begin a new era under coach Oliver Glasner. Forest lost both games at home to Leeds – the first a 1-0 defeat in their opening league game last weekend, the second a 2-0 midweek loss in the League Cup. So both teams will be very eager to find their form at Anfield and get back to winning ways.
Liverpool’s new boss said on Thursday it is no secret the club are in the hunt for more wingers after reports that the Reds are edging closer to a deal for Barcola. Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr as potential recruits to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah’s departure. The Dutchman, who scored in Iraola’s first match in charge in a 2-2 draw at Newcastle last weekend, is reportedly a target for Manchester City and Tottenham.
You never know who’s going to arrive,” Iraola added when asked about Gakpo’s future. I cannot guarantee anything.” The Austrian expressed frustration with the recruitment situation at his new club after their second defeat to Leeds, saying that Forest had “ignored reality” after losing at home to Leeds for the second time in a matter of days. Very turbulent season and it ended with a huge effort to stay in the league, and this is our starting point,” he said.
But [our] best midfielder [Elliot Anderson] leaves the club and now we expect we compete for European places because Oliver Glasner is in. Sorry, this is what I can’t deliver within six weeks. That is what we have to do.” Glasner should at least be pleased that Forest broke the club’s transfer record on Thursday to sign the talented, but out-of-favour young striker Liam Delap from Chelsea for a reported 45 million pounds ($61m).
The Opta supercomputer has made Liverpool the favourites, with a win probability of 61.1 percent. Forest were given a 18.2 percent chance of winning, while a draw was estimated at a 20.7 percent likelihood. They have faced each other 124 times; Liverpool winning 61, Forest 33 and 30 draws.
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