With seven games to go, Nottingham Forest desperately need to find a way of turning around their fortunes as they battle for Premier League survival.
The Reds struggled to lay much of a glove on Manchester United last Sunday, failing to register a single effort on target as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the City Ground. To have any chance of avoiding the drop, coaxing more from his side is the challenge for head coach Steve Cooper.
Forest have now gone 10 games without a win and remain 18th in the table, albeit with Everton being kept out of the relegation zone by virtue of a superior goal difference. They urgently need an improvement in form, particularly on the road.
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That leaves much riding on Cooper’s selection decisions for Saturday’s 3pm clash with Liverpool at Anfield. The Reds triumphed over Jurgen Klopp’s men earlier in the season and will need to believe they can get a positive result again.
Cooper stuck with a three-man defence against United, after it had been effective early on against Aston Villa. The system also suits Neco Williams better in a full-back role, and with Serge Aurier still absent Forest might retain that formation on Merseyside.
If so, the manager must decide whether to bring back Joe Worrall, who missed out due to illness on Sunday, or stick with Scott McKenna alongside Felipe and Moussa Niakhate. Both combinations generally worked well.
It is in the centre of the pitch where Cooper has the biggest dilemma, and that may affect his formation choice. Remo Freuler and Danilo were overrun in midfield against United, something the Reds can ill-afford to repeat.
There is the option of putting an extra body in there, perhaps bringing in Orel Mangala. But that would mean losing a man in attack, if three at the back is maintained. It could be Cooper reverts to four at the back to negate that issue.
To try to cause Liverpool problems, Forest need to get Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson on the ball more. The pair haven’t quite been at their best of late but are still capable of delivering moments of quality.
Taiwo Awoniyi threatened at times on his first start since returning from injury, although missed some big chances to hit the target. If he can quickly get back to the kind of form he was showing prior to injury, it would be a big plus. Nevertheless, having him back does offer a focal point up front.
Sam Surridge’s introduction was well received by the City Ground crowd on Sunday, with plenty of fans calling for him to be given more minutes. He was bright from off the bench, but it would still be a surprise if he has forced his way into a starting spot.
Cooper also has Emmanuel Dennis as an option. Like a number of his teammates, he has been struggling with injury, but provides an alternative if the Reds boss considers mixing up his attack.
Predicted Forest XI (assuming none of the injured players are fit to return): Navas; Williams, Felipe, Niakhate, Lodi; Freuler, Danilo, Mangala; Gibbs-White; Johnson, Awoniyi.
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