Nottingham Forest v Liverpool news: Reds can stay on track for trophy blitz

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

The Championship side have stunned Arsenal and Leicester in the FA Cup this season, but conquering Jurgen Klopp’s men is likely to be too big an ask.

Liverpool and Nottingham Forest haven't played each other this century, but they'll finally lock horns again after being paired in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Those of a certain age or good grasp of history will know the pair met in back-to-back semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1988 and 1989, with Liverpool going through to Wembley both times.

Forest have already claimed two Premier League scalps on their run to the last eight, but this is another step up altogether with rampant Liverpool looking to win an unprecedented quadruple.

When: Sunday, March 20, 18:00 GMT

Where: The City Ground

How to watch: ITV 1

Follow this game via our score centre

Who is the ref for Nottingham Forest v Liverpool

Craig Pawson is in charge at the City Ground.

The South Yorkshire official has refereed Liverpool twice this season, booking one Reds player on each occasion.

That was Fabinho in the 3-0 win at Leeds and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 3-2 loss at West Ham. He averages over four yellows per game which is on the high side.

Season stats 2021/22: All games (28), yellows (124), red (6), penalties (3)

Recent form

Nottingham Forest have improved markedly since Steve Cooper took over and they're now up to eighth place after a run of three straight wins.

All were at home and that includes victory over Huddersfield in the last round of the FA Cup. They've built on that with 4-0 and 3-1 wins over Reading and QPR respectively.

Overall, they've lost just once in their last 14 matches.

Liverpool racked up their ninth straight Premier League win with a 2-0 success at Arsenal in midweek, that superb run taking them to within a point of leaders Manchester City.

On the road, the Merseysiders have emerged victorious in their last seven matches since a 0-0 draw at Chelsea in early January.

They're unbeaten on their travels in 2022.

Nottingham Forest and Liverpool players in form

Ryan Yates has scored in his last four games for Forest while he's wheeled away in celebration in five of his last seven starts at the City Ground.

Attacking right-back Djed Spence has been one of Forest's star men on their FA Cup run, scoring in the 4-1 win over Leicester and adding another goal in the win over QPR in midweek.

Liverpool are in great form as a collective although the defence deserves special credit after keeping eight clean sheets in their last 11 matches.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker warms up for the Crystal Palace game

They've all played a part, with Alisson Becker making a superb save against Arsenal and Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip allowing the opposition very few chances.

And then, of course, they now have five in-form strikers after Luis Diaz's signing and the return to fitness of Roberto Firmino, who scored the second goal against the Gunners.

Last three meetings

Nottingham Forest 2-2 Liverpool (April 05, 1999)

Who would have thought at the end of this Premier League clash that it would take until 2022 before the pair would meet again.

Dougie Freedman (60) wiped out Jamie Redknapp's 15th minute opener but Michael Owen (72) looked to have won it for the visitors.

However, Dutch striker Pierre van Hooijdonk netted a last-gasp equaliser to give Forest a point.

Liverpool 5-1 Nottingham Forest (October 24, 1998)

Michael Owen was the star of the show at Anfield, blasting home four goals in a big Liverpool win.

Owen struck his first after just 10 minutes, added another on 38 and completed his hat-trick from the spot on 71. His fourth made it 5-1.

Steve McManaman (23) got the other Liverpool goal while Freedman's equaliser on 18 proved a false dawn.

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool (March 15, 1997)

Robbie Fowler put the visitors in front after just four minutes but Roy Evans' men couldn't build on it.

Ian Woan pulled Forest level on the half hour mark and that's how it stayed.

Liverpool finished fourth that season while Forest were relegated after finishing bottom with 34 points.

Past ten meetings

Nottingham Forest wins: 2

Draws: 4

Liverpool wins: 4

Nottingham Forest scored: 11

Liverpool scored: 18

Manager's thoughts

Jurgen Klopp said: "We are Premier League team number three for Nottingham in the competition so they didn't have an easy way yet, but they made it. An important game on Wednesday against Queens Park Rangers, they are close enough to think about promotion again so our former LFC coach [Steve Cooper] is doing obviously a proper job there, so another reason why it's a special game.

"If we rotate - and I really don't know it in the moment - then it's just to have the best team possible for this specific game on the pitch."

Steve Cooper said: "It doesn't get any tougher than Sunday but we've still got to go out there and play, and we've still got to back ourselves. If we don't back ourselves, then why should anyone else. We're really looking forward to the game.

"You have to really believe in yourself and approach it with a glass half full about how you can succeed in the game. Of course we will have a plan of what we think it takes to do well in the game. If some of that ends up being the right plan, then great."

Predicted Nottingham Forest v Liverpool teams

Forest will be without defender Scott McKenna after he limped off with a hamstring problem against QPR in midweek.

Lewis Grabban and Steve Cook both miss out with injury.

Possible Nottingham Forest line-up: Horvath, Worrall, Yates, Figueiredo, Spence, Garner, Cafu, Colback, Johnson, Zinckernagel, Davis.

Liverpool have suffered a blow after the news that Alexander-Arnold will miss a number of weeks with a hamstring injury.

Mo Salah has a bruised foot so may be rested although the Reds still have plenty of options up front.

Klopp has stressed that Alisson will start the game.

Possible Liverpool starting line-up: Alisson, Gomez, Matip, Konate, Robertson, Keita, Henderson, Jones, Jota, Mane, Firmino.

Nottingham Forest v Liverpool prediction

Forest are vastly improved and may even have had a realistic chance of pulling off a shock if this was say a fourth round tie.

But Liverpool can sniff the final now and having had a taste of Wembley glory when winning the Carabao Cup, I don't expect them to take their eye off the ball.

Forest should give it a good go but expect Klopp's side to win, perhaps by a 3-1 scoreline.