VAR will be in use on Sunday in Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Liverpool - and it will be the first time the system has been used at the City Ground.
Steve Cooper’s Reds take on the Premier League giants on home turf this weekend, in what will be their final fixture before the international break. It is the first time the two sides have met in competitive action since April 1999.
And the Football Association have now confirmed the match officials for the big game. Included in the list are a Video Assistant Referee and an Assistant VAR.
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Davis' delight
Striker Keinan Davis says he is reaping the rewards of playing regularly for Nottingham Forest and he has been boosted by the belief shown in him by boss Steve Cooper.
The 24-year-old had found a sustained run of games hard to come by at parent club Aston Villa. But he has become a key figure since joining the Reds on loan in January, due to spend the second half of the campaign at the City Ground..
He has been building up his fitness levels, recently completing his first 90 minutes for more than two years when he saw out the 1-1 draw at Sheffield United. But his performances have been at a high standard throughout - capped by Saturday’s stunning brace against Reading.
Patient Laryea
Defender Richie Laryea has been backed to take his Nottingham Forest chance, whenever it comes, by one of his former teammates.
The Canada international was one of five signings made by the Reds in the January transfer window. But he has yet to get on the pitch for Steve Cooper’s side.
Laryea has been on the bench on three occasions, against Huddersfield Town and Leicester City in the FA Cup, and away to Blackburn Rovers in the league. He has been up against tough competition to get in the side, though - in a team which has been doing well - and is still awaiting his debut.
Rangers test
QPR boss Mark Warburton says his side will come up against a Nottingham Forest team thriving under the guidance of Steve Cooper on Wednesday night.
Ex-Reds manager Warburton returns to the City Ground in midweek for a six-pointer between the two promotion-hopefuls. And he is well aware of the threat the hosts will pose.
Forest have gone from propping up the table when Cooper arrived last September, to pushing for the play-offs as the season’s run-in approaches. Saturday’s 4-0 rout over Reading moved them to within two points of the top six ahead of the latest round of fixtures.
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