Saturday’s English Premier League slate features two teams struggling to unlock their potential. After winning another league title last season and suffering only four losses, Liverpool has lost five of its first 11 games and sits in eighth place. Nottingham Forest, on the other end, are experiencing a catastrophic fall; the squad has plummeted all the way down to 19th in the table. Who can find their form in this one?
Liverpool are -220 favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook for this one, with a draw available at +380. If you favor an upset by Nottingham Forest, the club is +550 on the Moneyline. Let’s dig into a pick and prediction for Liverpool vs. Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool vs. Nottingham Forest Prediction, Pick
It’s been a trying season for Nottingham Forest. After their promotion, they spent big, putting them in a great position heading into the campaign. Now it’s all coming undone. They sacked manager Nuno Espirito Santo after a two-year run before his replacement, Ange Postecoglou, lasted all of a month. Now they turn to former Everton manager Sean Dyche at the helm.
Dyche has proven himself in relegation battles before, taking a battered Everton team out of the relegation zone just two seasons ago. He’ll be asked to do the same for Nottingham. And if they have any hope, it’ll come from emerging star Elliot Anderson.
If Liverpool can keep Anderson from dominating the center of the pitch, they have to feel good about their chances. But it comes down to defense. Their back line, led as always by Virgil Van Dijk, has been surprisingly leaky. Manager Arne Slot has emphasized tightening up on the back end as a key to turning the season around; they can’t rely on Mohamed Salah forever.
It does feel as if Liverpool has turned a corner mentally. They’re ready to show their quality against Nottingham, and I’m counting on a rousing performance from the defending champs.
