Can Liverpool End Their Year-Long Premier League Drought Against Nottingham Forest?
The Wait is Over: Liverpool's Premier League Away Clean Sheets
Liverpool's recent away form has been less than stellar, with a 12-month drought of consecutive clean sheets on the road in the Premier League. But a 1-0 win at Sunderland in their last league outing has given them a glimmer of hope. If they can keep Nottingham Forest out in their upcoming match, it would be their first instance of consecutive league away clean sheets in 12 months. This would also mark successive away league wins for the first time since September.
Clean Sheets and Success: A Recipe for Victory
A Liverpool clean sheet against Forest would be a significant achievement. It would be the first time they have recorded three shutouts in a row since last March, when they kept clean sheets at Man City away, Newcastle at home, and Paris Saint-Germain away. This would be a huge boost for the team, especially after their slow start and record against Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool's Slow Start and Record Against Nottingham Forest
Liverpool have scored only once in the opening 30 minutes of any league game since September, and none in the last 10. Their earliest goal in an away game this season came in the 35th minute of the 3-2 victory at Newcastle back in August, scored by Ryan Gravenberch. Forest, on the other hand, were one of three teams that Liverpool failed to defeat in last season's title-winning campaign, along with Arsenal and Fulham.
Nottingham Forest's Record Number of Managers
Nottingham Forest has had a turbulent season, with four permanent managers in the same campaign. After recently sacking Sean Dyche and appointing Vitor Pereira, they became the first club in the Premier League era to employ four permanent managers in the same campaign, with the other two being Ange Postecoglou and Nuno Espirito Santo. This has undoubtedly affected their performance and consistency.
Forest's Home and Away Form
Forest currently have 27 points from 26 games. At the same stage last season, they were 20 points better off. They have won three of 13 home league games in this campaign, scoring just 13 times and losing six. Home and away, they have lost one of the last six league matches – the 3-1 defeat at Leeds 16 days ago. However, since defeating Tottenham two months ago, they have not won any of their last five home league games.
This Season's Scorers
Forest: Igor Jesus 12, Gibbs-White 8, Hudson-Odoi 5, Wood 3, Kalimuendo 2, Murillo 2, Ndoye 2, Sangare 2, Savona 2, Anderson 1, Awoniyi 1, Dominguez 1, Hutchinson 1, Lucca 1, McAtee 1, Milenkovic 1, Williams 1, Yates 1, own goals 1
Liverpool: Ekitike 15, Szoboszlai 10, Gakpo 7, Salah 7, Wirtz 6, Gravenberch 4, Van Dijk 4, Chiesa 3, Isak 3, Mac Allister 3, Frimpong 2, Konate 2, Jones 1, Kerkez 1, Ngumoha 1, Robertson 1, own goals 2
Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).
