Paul Merson has shared his forecast for what he’s labelled a ‘massive clash’ between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool on Sunday.
The Reds head to the City Ground on the back of impressive victories over Sunderland and Brighton, but they face a side that has caused Arne Slot plenty of problems. Forest have beaten him twice at Anfield and held him to a draw in his previous visit to Trentside 13 months ago.
Liverpool will also be mindful of the potential ‘new manager bounce’ following Forest’s appointment of Vitor Pereira, their fourth head coach in a turbulent season for the relegation-battling club.
Merson tips Liverpool to get revenge
Despite Liverpool’s recent struggles against Forest, including a heavy 3-0 defeat at Anfield in November, Merson believes the Merseysiders will gain revenge by taking all three points on Sunday.
Writing in his weekly Premier League predictions for Sportskeeda, the Sky Sports pundit said: “This is a huge game at both ends of the table.
“Liverpool tore Sunderland apart in their last match – I haven’t seen any other team dominate them like that at the Stadium of Light this season. Konate and Salah are starting to look back to their best, and that has made a big difference.
“The team also looks far more settled now. A few weeks ago, it was hard to predict the starting XI, but now at least nine players are guaranteed starters. I’m expecting a comfortable win.”
Merson has tipped Liverpool to claim a 2-0 victory at the City Ground.
Forest away poses a tricky test
On paper, Liverpool’s improved form and league position (sixth compared to Forest’s 17th) suggest they should be clear favourites to secure the points and strengthen their push for a Champions League place.
However, football rarely follows the script. Arsenal’s recent collapse from a 2-0 lead against bottom-placed Wolves is proof of that, and Sunday’s fixture carries plenty of potential pitfalls for the Reds.
Forest’s strong record against Slot could play on the Liverpool boss’s mind, while the impact of Pereira’s arrival – after sparking an immediate turnaround at Wolves last season – only heightens the sense of danger.
That said, Merson is right to highlight the resurgence of Konate and Salah, as well as the growing influence of last summer’s signings. Alongside standout performers Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez has also impressed in recent weeks.
Liverpool’s attacking output has picked up significantly after a run of draws earlier in 2026, a point Slot himself addressed in his pre-match press conference. As a result, the Reds travel to Nottingham with confidence, though they know another strong display will be required to secure victory.
With Manchester United not in action until Monday night, Liverpool have a golden opportunity to temporarily move level on points with their fierce rivals in fourth place — an opportunity they cannot afford to waste.
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