Forest head to Anfield with selection questions and new signing in tow
Nottingham Forest will travel to Anfield on Saturday for a 12:30pm BST kick-off knowing their manager has not fixed a definitive approach for the early weeks of the season. Oliver Glasner has told reporters that the exact formation he will use remains contingent on how the transfer window concludes, leaving a degree of uncertainty over how Forest will set up against a Liverpool side who are already adapting under new management.
That uncertainty does not, however, appear to extend to the fitness of some of Forest’s more influential players. Glasner confirmed that Morgan Gibbs-White and Ryan Yates are available for selection after a minor worry over Gibbs-White following his absence from midweek League Cup action. Gibbs-White has a noted record of producing decisive contributions at Anfield in recent seasons and will be a player to watch.
- Morgan Gibbs-White — fit and available; has scored or assisted in half of his last six Anfield appearances.
- Ryan Yates — available for selection.
- Ibrahim Sangaré — out with a minor calf injury picked up in training.
- Nicolò Savona — remains sidelined.
- Liam Delap — new signing; could make his Forest debut.
Forest’s away game against the Reds represents a tactical test. Glasner’s sides have been adaptable in the Premier League, and the coach suggested the final personnel decisions will follow the closure of transfer business. That flexibility means Liverpool must prepare for a range of possibilities from their visitors.
Glasner said the formation he will use will not be settled until after the transfer window closes and the dust settles.
Adding to the intrigue is the arrival of Liam Delap, who joined Forest this week and could be thrust into first-team action at Anfield. Though Delap has had limited time in training with his new team, his previous Premier League experience was noted as a factor that could see him used early in the campaign.
Not all of the headlines are positive for Forest. Midfielder Ibrahim Sangaré, who featured prominently in the opening match of the season, will be unavailable because of a minor calf problem sustained during a training session. Defender Nicolò Savona remains out as he continues his recovery.
Challenges at Anfield and recent form
Forest travel to Merseyside with a recent history that will not be lost on supporters. Liverpool have suffered back-to-back home defeats to Nottingham Forest in the past, a statistic both clubs are aware of as they prepare for Saturday’s meeting. For Glasner’s side, the emphasis is likely to be on discipline, counter-attacking threat and maximising the influence of key attacking players.
For Nottingham Forest fans, the match presents both a challenge and an opportunity: to get a positive result against one of the country’s top sides while integrating a new signing into the squad and coping without a central midfield presence in Sangaré. How Glasner balances those priorities — and whether he opts for a settled shape or adapts to the personnel available — will be central to Forest’s chances at Anfield.
| Player | Availability |
|---|---|
| Morgan Gibbs-White | Available |
| Ryan Yates | Available |
| Ibrahim Sangaré | Unavailable (calf) |
| Nicolò Savona | Unavailable |
| Liam Delap | Could debut |
Forest will head north aiming to be mentally prepared for an opponent who will look to assert control but who remain vulnerable to swift transitions. The manager’s final call on structure and personnel, likely influenced by the transfer window’s outcome, will shape whether Nottingham Forest can repeat recent successes at Anfield or whether Liverpool will wrestle back momentum on their home turf.
