They looked very much like the Liverpool of old at Elland Road, and the remainder of their Premier League (PL) season will probably need to follow suit if they’re to salvage anything tangible considering they still trail the European spots by six points.
Anfield not witnessing European football is almost unthinkable, so Jürgen Klopp’s men return to home needing to keep the points rolling in, something they’re accustomed to having lost only one of their last 37 home league matches (W27, D9).
That will likely strike fear into Nottingham Forest, as should the fact Liverpool are unbeaten in the last 25 home H2Hs (W18, D7), but losing the reverse fixture 1-0 in October shows nothing can be taken for granted.
That’s especially true when encountering a wounded animal occupying a relegation spot, which is exactly the situation Forest find themselves in at the moment after failing to win any of their last 10 matches (D3, L7).
They’ve conceded in every one of those games, meaning manager Steve Cooper has only celebrated a league win this season when his side has kept a clean sheet.
Should Cooper somehow mastermind one of those resilient defensive performances here, it would truly be historic, as only two promoted teams have ever claimed a PL double over Liverpool, while Forest’s last league double over their hosts was back in 1962/63.
The form book certainly dismisses the chances of a historic double as unlikely, with Forest’s haul of six points and five goals scored on their PL travels this season both being league-lows.
Players to watch: Diogo Jota returned to the PL scoresheet after a 372-day drought with a brace against Leeds, continuing his record of having never lost when scoring for Liverpool (W25, D4).
Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi will be looking to replicate his heroics from the reverse fixture when he scored the game-winner with one of his four PL goals this season, all serving as the match opener.
Hot stat: No PL team has won fewer points than Forest after conceding first this season (four - D4, L12).
