Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Mohamed Salah Chasing Another Record

Mohamed Salah heads into Liverpool’s trip to Nottingham Forest on the verge of another landmark moment in his Premier League career. The forward sits level with Steven Gerrard on 92 league assists after providing the corner that Virgil van Dijk converted at Sunderland last week. One more assist would see Mohamed Salah become Liverpool’s leading Premier League creator, while also moving into seventh place on the competition’s all time assist rankings.

For a player long associated with goals, his creative numbers highlight how his game has evolved under Arne Slot. Liverpool continue to rely on Salah’s sharp decision making in the final third, especially when matches become tight and space is limited. His record at the City Ground offers extra motivation, as he has yet to score or assist there in two league appearances, making Nottingham Forest one of the few sides where his impact has been limited.

Form Guide Before Nottingham Forest Clash

Liverpool travel in solid form, having lost only one of their last seven away league matches, with three wins and three draws during that run. Arne Slot’s side have also been beaten just twice in their last 19 games in all competitions, a sign of consistency that helped them claim the Premier League title in 2024-25.

Dominik Szoboszlai has become a key contributor on the road, directly involved in eight goals across his last 11 away appearances, scoring in each of his previous two matches. Cody Gakpo is also closing in on a personal milestone, sitting two goals shy of 50 for Liverpool in all competitions.

Set pieces could play a decisive role again. Five of Liverpool’s eight Premier League goals against Nottingham Forest since 2022 have come from dead ball situations, showing how important delivery and movement remain in these fixtures.

City Ground Challenge and Historical Trends

Despite recent form, history at the City Ground offers a reminder that this is rarely a straightforward trip. Liverpool have won only once in their last 15 away league games against Nottingham Forest, a narrow 1-0 victory in March 2024 secured by a late Darwin Nunez header. Since August 1955, only Ian Rush has scored more than once for Liverpool in a league visit to Forest, doing so in a 2-2 draw in January 1990.

Forest themselves are chasing a notable achievement. Following their 3-0 win at Anfield in November, they are aiming to complete their first league double over Liverpool since the 1962-63 season.

Nottingham Forest Context Ahead of Kick Off

This match marks Vitor Pereira’s first league game in charge of Nottingham Forest. Each of the club’s last six managers lost their opening top flight fixture, a run Pereira will be keen to end. His previous meeting with Liverpool came just over a year ago, when his Wolverhampton Wanderers side were beaten 2-1 at Anfield.

Forest are unbeaten in their last three league meetings with Liverpool, yet recent home form has dipped, with no wins in their last five at the City Ground since beating Tottenham Hotspur two months ago. All signs point to a contest shaped by fine margins, where Mohamed Salah’s pursuit of another Liverpool record could provide the defining moment.