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2023/24 English Premier League
Matchday 10
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Anfield
Liverpool, England
Sunday, 29 October 2023
Kick-off is at 16h00
Liverpool will be looking to build on their first victory in three
Premier League games when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Sunday, October 29.
The Reds claimed the local bragging rights after they beat neighbours Everton 2-0 in the 243rd Merseyside derby on October 21 to make it six wins for the season.
Jurgen Klopp's side trail Manchester City and Arsenal by a point in third place, with the Citizens going top courtesy of a 2-1 triumph against Brighton, while the Gunners drew 2-2 with Chelsea.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Forest's winless run in the league stretched to five matches following the 2-2 draw with Luton - the fourth time they had picked up just one point since defeating Chelsea 1-0 on September 2.
The Tricky Trees have dropped to 15th in the standings, six points above the relegation zone and they can count themselves lucky that none of the bottom-five clubs managed to win on matchday 9.
Mohamed Salah achieved another milestone in his Liverpool career after the Egyptian's brace against the Toffees saw him surpass Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard in the list of top scorers at Anfield with his 104th and 105th goals. The Pharaohs star, who also scored twice in the 2-2 draw with Brighton prior to the international break, took his tally for the campaign to seven goals in nine outings.
Chris Wood played the full 90 minutes for the first time this season against the Hatters as he continued to step up his fitness from a long-term thigh injury. The New Zealand international netted a brace and should have bagged a hat-trick, but missed the target with a close-range header. Wood had earlier opened his account with a late winner against Sheffield United on matchday 2.
Klopp felt it was important to get a response from his players after they squandered the lead to draw 2-2 at Brighton and was happy to get the right performance against their city rivals on the back of the international break.
"I like to respond on things, but you need to have a reason to respond and you should be able to remember the thing you have to respond to," the German said.
"Two weeks since Brighton, the players were everywhere in the world, that makes no sense. I'm not happy that we are 'back on track' or whatever, I'm happy we won the game."
Forest manager Steve Cooper expressed his disappointment that they threw away a two-goal lead against Luton, especially after dominating much of the encounter at the City Ground.
"It's disappointment in the end. We dominated the game and we're disappointed we weren't leading by one or two goals at half-time," Cooper lamented.
"We obviously got the early goal in the second half and then made it 2-0 and it all changes on a set-piece, which we defended terribly really.
"Of all Luton's threats off set-plays, it was the worst delivery of the day and ends up in the back of our net and that's where the momentum changes.
"It's a real pity because of the way we had played for however long it was before their first goal went in because it was a comfortable game for us."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Liverpool - 2
Forest - 1
Draws - 2
Premier League Matchday 10 fixtures:
Friday, October 27
21h00: Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday, October 28
13h30: Chelsea v Brentford
16h00: Bournemouth v Burnley
16h00: Arsenal v Sheffield United
18h30: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United
Sunday, October 29
15h00: West Ham United v Everton
16h00: Aston Villa v Luton Town
16h00: Brighton & Hove Albion v Fulham
16h00: Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
17h30: Manchester United v Manchester City
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