Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has vowed whoever steps in to replace the injured Scott McKenna against Liverpool will be ready.
The centre-back is facing up to five weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, having been forced off in Wednesday night’s victory over QPR. That came after the Reds had already been hit with the loss of Steve Cook and Max Lowe for six weeks, when they suffered ankle and groin injuries respectively in last weekend’s thumping of Reading.
Tobias Figueiredo came into the back line to replace Cook in midweek and is expected to get a run-out again for the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday, alongside Joe Worrall. Forest have Loic Mbe Soh and January signing Jonathan Panzo as other centre-backs on the books - although both have struggled for game time - while midfielder Ryan Yates has also dropped into a three-man defence before. Cooper also has the option of switching to four at the back.
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The Welshman was giving little away ahead of the weekend’s clash, however. Asked about Mbe Soh and Panzo as potential options, he said: “We try to prepare every player to play.
"We’ve seen in recent games how Cafu has stepped in and Toby came back in the other day. We’ve looked at the impact of the lads who have come on later in the game - Joe Lolley the other night, Sam (Surridge) and Cafu again.
Klopp makes Forest transfer prediction
Jurgen Klopp expects the “whole of the Premier League” are keeping tabs on Nottingham Forest’s stars ahead of potential summer transfers.
The Liverpool manager has been giving his assessment of Forest ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final meeting between the two clubs, and has been impressed with the “big talents” in Steve Cooper’s team.
There has already been interest from a handful of Premier League clubs in the likes of Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence, but Klopp suggested there will be plenty more sides keeping an eye on players at the City Ground.
Victories over Arsenal and Leicester City to reach this stage of the FA Cup suggest plenty are already capable of making the step up, and it is those victories that are ensuring Klopp is warning his side not to get complacent.
Liverpool are chasing a quadruple after reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League and reining in Manchester City in the Premier League, but to treat a trip to the East Midlands as an easier day out would be a mistake, he believes.
Klopp said: “If we just go in that direction, thinking 'that's a little bit of a relief', that would be a problem. If we take only a little bit off the gas – not even fully, just a little bit – gone, three competitions, see you later, no chance. We should not even try to go to Nottingham.
“Maybe at one point, we say 'we can focus on this or focus on that' or whatever, but the only way I know is to stay completely focused on the next game, and that is Nottingham. Yes, they are a Championship side, but one in a really good moment.
Forest praised for Hillsborough gesture
Nottingham Forest will leave 97 seats empty at the City Ground when they host Liverpool in the FA Cup this weekend.
The gesture is in tribute to the 97 lives lost as a result of the Hillsborough disaster that took place when the two sides met in the FA Cup semi-finals 33 years ago.
Forest posted on their Instagram: "97 seats will be left vacant at tomorrow's match in honour of those who lost their lives at our FA Cup semi final in 1989. We look forward to welcoming Liverpool FC to The City Ground."
The club received a lot of praise for their tribute, with one fan calling it a "beautiful gesture", while another said "good to see, well done Forest".
A third commenter said "proper respect, well done", and a fourth wrote "such a lovely respectful thing to do" amid a slew of positive comments.
Reds love Reading result
Nottingham Forest are not even in league action this weekend but their fans were delighted nonetheless with Saturday's results in the Championship.
Several promotion rivals dropped points, but the most notable one of all was Blackburn Rovers, who lost 1-0 to relegation-threatened Reading. A late goal from Josh Laurent secured all three points for the Royals.
The result leaves Rovers sixth in the table, but only just; Forest are three points behind with three games in hand, giving them a great chance to pull well clear of Tony Mowbray's side in the play-off race.
There was double delight from that result, though, as it also means that Reading are a massive eight points clear of the Reds' fierce local rivals, Derby County, who are embroiled in a survival battle at the wrong end of the standings.
With the Rams drawing with Coventry City earlier in the day, it feels increasingly ominous that Wayne Rooney's side will suffer the drop at the end of the campaign.
Many Reds supporters took to Twitter to share their glee at the result and what it means. Here is what some of them were tweeting:
Andrew Butts: Bad day for #dcfc oh dear. #nffc
Matt H: I don’t think Derby will get more than 33 points one more win for Reading will see them down
Will Thorpe: What a day! Huddersfield, Blackburn & Millwall all lose...West Brom only draw... Reading move 8 points clear of Derby at the bottom! Roll on the scousers tomorrow!! #NFFC
