MatchThe opposition lowdown: Nottingham Forest

The view from Forest

Sarah Clapson, Nottingham Forest correspondent, Nottingham Post

On Cooper's style of play...

Last season, it was a case of needs must for Forest. Cooper made compromises to how he likes to play in order to get results any way, any how. It worked, with safety secured with a game to spare.

This season, though, Forest are very keen to kick on and make progress. That included evolving their style of play into something more pleasing on the eye and with a clear identity.

So far, they have shown glimpses of what they are capable of but they are still not quite there yet. It is clear what Cooper wants to do; he wants Forest to be a team which can play through the lines and is comfortable in possession. They just haven't quite fully clicked yet.

That doesn't mean Forest will completely abandon using a low-block and counter-attack – after all, the pace they have in the side means that can be a useful string to their bow. The overall aim is to be more flexible, both in style of play and formations.

The signings Forest made in the summer have allowed them to switch from a back three to a four-man defence. But they are capable of reverting back, and they can also utilise a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 depending on availability.

On Forest's predicted line-up...

It is tough to predict which formation Cooper will go with. A 4-3-3 has been used of late, but there is the possibility he could opt to go with wing-backs at Anfield.

Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Turner; Aurier, Boly, Murillo, Toffolo; Mangala, Dominguez, Sangare; Gibbs-White, Wood, Elanga.

Recent form

Forest head to Merseyside with two wins to their name this season in the Premier League and have gathered 10 points in total.

Cooper's team have played out three draws on the bounce in the top flight, most recently a 2-2 with Luton Town at the City Ground last weekend.

Previous meetings

The last time the two clubs met at Anfield, in April of this year, there were five goals.

A Diogo Jota double alongside a Mohamed Salah effort was enough for the Reds to win 3-2 in a topsy-turvy Premier League encounter that the visitors twice levelled in.

Stats

• If he scores in this game, Salah will become only the third player in Liverpool history to net in each of the club's opening five home league matches of a season, following Harry Chambers (1922) and John Aldridge (1987).
• The Reds require two goals to reach 650 in all Premier League games under Jürgen Klopp.
• Liverpool are unbeaten in the last 24 league encounters between the sides at Anfield, winning 19 and drawing five.