Last Updated on 21/02/2026 by Andy Clark
Liverpool travel to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday, as they look to make up ground on the top four.
Below you will find our Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool betting tips, match predictions and a 19/1 bet builder for Sunday’s Premier League clash.
Key Stats – Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
- Forest have won only two of their last 10 Premier League matches
- Liverpool have lost only two of their last 10 in all competitions
- Hugo Ekitike has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season, averaging well over 0.5 shots on target per game in the league
- Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 10 goals in all competitions this season and has bagged two in his last two matches
- Ibrahim Sangare averages almost 1.5 fouls per game in the Premier League this season
- Forest beat Fenerbahce 3-0 in the Europa League during the week but have struggled badly in domestic competition
Nottingham Forest Form and Match Preview
Forest come into this one off the back of a solid 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce during the week. However, they’re 17th in the Premier League, and their Europa League form has papered over some significant cracks domestically.
They have won only two of their last 10 in the Premier League, and find themselves deep in a relegation battle as we head towards the business end of the season. While their European performances – including a 4-0 win over Ferencvaros and that midweek victory over Fenerbahce — have been eye-catching, the league remains the priority and their record there makes for grim reading. A home game against Liverpool will feel like an opportunity to drag themselves up the table, but they face a Liverpool side that has found some real consistency in recent weeks, even playing well in the loss to Manchester City.
Liverpool Form and Match Preview
The Reds are sixth in the league, three points behind Manchester United and Chelsea who occupy fourth position. Arne Slot’s side have won 12, drawn six and lost eight in the league so far this season.
Liverpool come into this one following a 3-0 victory over Brighton in the FA Cup, and have lost only two of their last 10 in all competitions, with six wins and two draws in that time. It hasn’t been a vintage season by Liverpool’s lofty standards, but the form curve is heading in the right direction at exactly the right time. With the top four very much in their sights, Slot’s side will be fully motivated to take all three points from the City Ground on Sunday and keep the pressure on the teams above them.
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool Bet Builder Tip
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Nottingham Forest v Liverpool Betting Tips and Best Bets
- Liverpool to win (5/6)
- Hugo Ekitike over 0.5 shots on target (2/5)
- Dominik Szoboszlai over 0.5 shots on target (6/5)
- Ibrahim Sangare to be booked (10/3)
Best Bet Builder Tip – Liverpool to Win
Although Forest have been in decent form of late, with two very impressive wins in the Europa League in recent weeks — a 4-0 victory over Ferencvaros and a 3-0 win over Fenerbahce — they have won only two of their last 10 in the Premier League. Liverpool haven’t had a great season by their standards, with the Champions currently in sixth. They come into this one following a 3-0 victory over Brighton in the FA Cup, and have lost only two of their last 10 in all competitions, with six wins and two draws in that time. I think 5/6 is fantastic odds for them to beat relegation battlers Forest this weekend.
The form gap between these two sides in the Premier League right now is stark. Forest’s new manager got off to a flying start in their Europa League match on Thursday, but Slot’s Liverpool are a different proposition to the sides they’ve been facing in the Europa League. With a top-four place to fight for, Liverpool will be at their most motivated on Sunday, and at 5/6, this is the cornerstone of the bet builder.
Hugo Ekitike Over 0.5 Shots on Target (2/5)
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is the first of Arne Slot’s men I’m backing to have one or more shots on target this weekend. He has scored 15 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season, with 10 of them coming in his 23 league appearances, which is a reasonable return in his first season at Anfield. He has had 57 shots in those 23 outings, with 18 being on target, an average well over 0.5 per game.
At 2/5, it’s not a price that adds enormous value to the builder on its own, but the reliability of this selection is exactly what you want as a foundation leg. He is averaging well over one shot on target every two games at a minimum, and against a Forest side low on confidence and scrambling for points, he should see enough of the ball in dangerous positions to oblige here.
Alternative Bet – Hugo Ekitike to Score (13/10)
Upgrading Ekitike to anytime goalscorer at 13/10 increases the odds of this bet to a very decent 28/1 with BetMGM. He was last on target with a brace in that 4-1 win over Newcastle at the end of January, and I think there’s a chance of him scoring here.
Dominik Szoboszlai Over 0.5 Shots on Target (6/5)
I also think Dominik Szoboszlai will have at least one shot on target in this one. The Hungarian midfielder has been a shining light for Liverpool this season. He has bagged 10 goals in all competitions this season, with two in his last two, in games either side of his one match suspension against Sunderland. Of his 49 shots in the league, 17 of them have been on target. I think 6/5 is great odds for a player who has bagged two in two to have a shot on target.
At 6/5, this is the value leg of the builder. A midfielder who has scored 10 times in all competitions and is bang in form should be a much shorter price to register a shot on target than that. Szoboszlai loves to arrive late into the box and shoot from range, which means his shot count tends to be high even in games where he doesn’t score. This feels like a standout selection.
Ibrahim Sangare to Be Booked (10/3)
I think Forest’s defensive midfielder Ibrahim Sangare is a good shout for a card here. The Ivorian has been carded on four occasions this season, with three bookings in the league and one in the Europa League. He has made 25 fouls in 18 Premier League appearances, giving him an average of almost 1.5 fouls per game. Coming up against a strong Liverpool midfield, I expect him to foul a couple of times here. I think he’s good odds for a booking at 10/3.
With Forest sitting deep and looking to frustrate Liverpool, Sangare will be tasked with doing the dirty work in midfield — breaking up play, winning the second ball, and making life difficult for Szoboszlai and company. That style of play almost inevitably leads to fouls, and with 1.5 per game already on his card this season, the referee will not need much of an excuse to reach for a yellow. At 10/3, this is a strong value addition to the builder.
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool Predictions Summary
To summarise our Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool betting tips and predictions for Sunday’s Premier League clash:
Our best bet is Liverpool to win, backed by their strong recent run of form, Forest’s woeful domestic record, and the motivation of a top four race that demands three points away from home. Our 19/1 bet builder combines a Liverpool win, Ekitike over 0.5 shots on target, Szoboszlai over 0.5 shots on target, and Ibrahim Sangare to be booked.
If you’d prefer to chase a bigger return, swapping Ekitike over 0.5 shots on target for Ekitike to score at 13/10 pushes the builder out to 28/1 with Bet MGM — well worth considering given his recent brace against Newcastle.
How to Get a Boost on Your Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool Bet Builders
Boylesports are offering a 25% boost on bet builders for Premier League matches this weekend, meaning a 19/1 builder would be taken to over 24/1. Their Sub Swap and Early Payout offers are also active for all Premier League fixtures, giving you added protection on your selections.
Betfred’s Double Delight and Hat-trick Heaven offer is also worth keeping in mind if you’re adding Ekitike to score to your builder — any player who scores twice sees their odds doubled, and a hat-trick trebles them.
For more bet builder tips across this weekend’s Premier League action, head to our hub page, where we have all the top fixtures covered.
Need a Boylesports Account? Get a £40 Free Bet
Open a Boylesports account and bet £10 on Sunday’s Premier League matches, win or lose, you will get a £40 free bet added to your account. Click this link or the button below to activate the offer.
More from Thatsagoal in February
As well as our Premier League predictions for all the upcoming fixtures, we also have you covered for bet builder tips ahead of the weekend action. We will pick out the best bets for each match and add them to a bet builder. Once you have picked out your football tips, you will need some free bets to use and there are plenty available at the moment, including the Midnite welcome offer and BetGoodwin’s welcome bonus for new customers.
If you have used all the well-known bookmakers before, then look through the list of new UK bookies who also have sign-up bonuses.
If horse racing is more your thing, our Cheltenham 2026 tips are in full swing with predictions already made for most of the 28 races. Cheltenham free bets are starting to emerge as well, and there is a quick list of offers below, which you should start signing up for and saving the free bets for Cheltenham week, starting Tuesday, 10th March.
Midnite £30 Cheltenham sign-up offer.
BetGoodwin £10 Cheltenham sign-up offer.
bet365 £30 Cheltenham sign-up offer.
BetVictor £30 Cheltenham sign-up offer.
Jake has been on the thatsagoal.com team for over 5 years, and he is the person responsible for the bet builders across the Premier League and Champions League. His background in journalism means the articles are perfectly written, and each prediction is explained with stats and reasoning to back them up. There have been countless winners from Jake, including a 66/1 win in the FA Cup final when Manchester City were beaten by Crystal Palace.
