The final international break of 2025 is now behind us, and Liverpool restart their season against Nottingham Forest at Anfield, and both teams are in desperate need of points.
Liverpool vs. Nottingham Forest
Premier League (12) | Anfield
November 22, 2025 | 3pm (GMT)
Liverpool signed off for the November international break in lacklustre fashion, but the squad now have to refocus ahead of a run of seven games in 22 days.
Arne Slot can now welcome back one of his key names, but he has new injuries to contend with as well, which will force a change to his team selection, starting against Forest on Saturday afternoon.
1. Alisson is BACK in Liverpool’s starting lineup
We’ll start with the good news: after a seven-week layoff with a hamstring injury, Alisson is ready to be welcomed back into the starting lineup, which will result in Giorgi Mamardashvili‘s return to the bench.
The Brazilian has not been involved since suffering his injury in the 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray on September 30 and his return comes as a timely boost ahead of the festive schedule.
Alexander Isak, meanwhile, is also fit to be involved after playing his first minutes since October 23 off the bench with Sweden over the break.
Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni are still sidelined, as are Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns.
2. Double injury blow: Bradley AND Wirtz out
Just when you thought Liverpool had come out of the international break unscathed, Slot delivered the news we did not want to hear.
Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz are unavailable with muscle injuries, with the right-back to miss at least the next seven games, while the German will hopefully return sooner.
“Both are muscle issues,” Slot explained. “I don’t expect Conor to be part of the upcoming 22 days, maybe at the end, unless a miracle happens, which I don’t expect.”
It is an untimely blow as the Reds seek to find some form and consistency in results and performances. It leaves Slot with only five fit senior defenders, brilliant.
3. Forest have won 2 of last 10 – onto third manager
Forest have already parted ways with Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou this season, and their third manager at the helm is a familiar one.
Sean Dyche is now in charge and has overseen two wins, two draws and a defeat so far, but Forest remain in the relegation zone with nine points from the first 11 league games.
There has, however, been a noticeable improvement for Forest with more shots on goal under Dyche’s guidance, but it remains to be seen if that new manager bounce will have waned by the time they get to Anfield.
Fingers crossed it has!
4. Liverpool’s predicted lineup vs. Forest
Instead of a few welcome decisions to make when it came to his starting lineup, Slot instead has a right-back dilemma to solve as he balances the best fit against the run of fixtures ahead.
Dominik Szoboszlai is one of the top contenders even if that leaves a hole in midfield, with the Hungarian selected over Joe Gomez after Slot conceded the “risk” of playing him in successive games.
Alisson, meanwhile, is the obvious inclusion, while Andy Robertson ought to keep his place ahead of Milos Kerkez despite a tiring affair in midweek – physically and emotionally.
Cody Gakpo will return to the XI in place of Wirtz, with Mo Salah well rested and Hugo Ekitike still likely to start over Isak.
Predicted LFC XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike
5. Why Liverpool vs. Forest is not live on UK TV
With neither Sky Sports nor TNT Sports selecting this match for one of their televised spots this weekend, the fixture will not be shown live in the UK.
This is due to the 3pm blackout rule, which was created to protect lower league attendances in the 1960s and remains in force despite growing calls for it to change.
This will not affect you if you live outside the UK as international broadcasters can show the match live without any issue.
We will have our usual worldwide guide available to you ahead of kickoff and our liveblog will also be up and running.
6. Forest team news and predicted XI
Forest will arrive at Anfield with several players in doubt, though winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is in contention to be involved having recently returned to training – he scored the winner last season.
Chris Wood was to have another scan on his knee injury as part of his recovery process, though Dyche hinted he could be in the squad – a start will not be on the cards, though.
Douglas Luiz, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Dilane Bakwa, Angus Gunn, Ola Aina, and Aaron Bott are all ruled out. Former Liverpool player Taiwo Awoniyi is also not expected to be involved due to injury.
Dyche could name an unchanged side from the one that beat Leeds 3-1 last time out, but Hudson-Odoi could replace Nicolas Dominguez in the XI if he proves to be fully fit.
Possible Forest XI: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
7. Arne Slot: ‘Diogo Jota loss is affecting players’
Speaking on the eve of the match, an emotional Slot reflected on Robertson’s recent vulnerable admission about Diogo Jota, with the head coach admitting the toll is impossible to quantify:
“I think it’s good to remember him every time possible, because of the person and player he was.
“But it’s impossible to measure what it does to the players and then to measure what it does for our results.
“The last thing I will do is to use it as an excuse, because I simply don’t know.
“What I do know is what we do miss the player, that’s 100 percent sure, and we also miss the person, but I cannot measure what impact that has on our performances, let alone on our results.
“That’s impossible for me to say. We will never use it as an excuse because that doesn’t feel right.”
8. If you’re off to the match, get to the turnstiles early!
There has been a lot of frustration about the time it has taken supporters to get into the ground of late, with the club increasing security on the turnstiles around the stadium.
Supporters have been advised to arrive at Anfield early, with turnstiles opening two hours before kickoff, to allow for the necessary checks.
The club have said that “more resources have been allocated at turnstiles” to ensure smoother entry into the ground, but it is something to be aware of as every supporter will be searched.
It is not ideal but hopefully the process is a lot quicker for supporters from here on out.
9. Referee: Andy Madley
Andy Madley is in charge of this fixture at Anfield, which could be a positive omen for Liverpool as they have lost just two of the 20 matches he has taken charge of.
Adrian Holmes and Simon Long are his assistants on Saturday afternoon, while Adam Herczeg will act as the fourth official.
James Bell will operate as lead VAR with Mark Scholes acting as his assistant.
10. How to follow Liverpool vs. Forest with TIA!
Nottingham Forest‘s visit to Anfield will NOT be shown live for those of us in the UK, with the match kicking off at 3pm (GMT).
This Is Anfield have you covered, though, with our usual matchday liveblog. Harry McMullen will be keeping you informed and entertained from 2.15pm, biased commentary included!
Into these, Reds!
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