Liverpool XI vs Nottingham Forest: Iraola’s Anfield Era Begins
Liverpool walk back out at Anfield for the first time this 2026-27 season with a familiar warning hanging over the stadium: Nottingham Forest like this ground. They’ve won on their last two visits here.
And in the away dugout stands a man who also knows how to hurt the Reds. Oliver Glasner beat Liverpool twice last season with Crystal Palace. Now he brings a Forest side that has already shown it can rattle Anfield, against a Liverpool team trying to launch a new chapter under Andoni Iraola.
The Kop sees its new head coach in the flesh for the first time. The backdrop is romantic; the recent record is anything but.
Defensive Absences Shape Iraola’s Options
Iraola’s first home XI comes with enforced changes. Joe Gomez is missing again as he continues to recover from the hamstring injury that disrupted his pre-season. Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley remain sidelined with long-term problems, stripping depth from the defensive pool.
That leaves Virgil van Dijk, captain’s armband on, as the anchor in the back line, partnered by Jacquet. Jeremie Frimpong starts on the right, with Milos Kerkez on the left, giving Liverpool aggressive full-back options in a game where territory and tempo will matter.
Midfield Competition and Attacking Firepower
Further forward, Liverpool still have to navigate around absences. Hugo Ekitike is out until after Christmas with an achilles injury, removing one attacking option from Iraola’s early-season plans.
Federico Chiesa remains a doubt after missing the 2-2 draw at Newcastle United. Even if fit, he faces fierce competition just to make the matchday squad, underlining how crowded the attacking positions have become.
One player who will not feature is Harvey Elliott. As he edges closer to an exit, he drops out of the squad entirely, a significant note in terms of both squad planning and dressing-room evolution.
On the pitch, though, the XI looks bold. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai line up in midfield with Florian Wirtz, a trio built to dominate the ball and break lines. Ahead of them, Cody Gakpo, Luis Munoz and Alexander Isak provide movement and finishing, a front line designed to stretch Forest in every channel.
Liverpool Confirmed XI vs Nottingham Forest
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo, Munoz, Isak.
Bench: Mamardashvili, Araujo, Tsimikas, Endo, Gravenberch, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha.
Anfield has seen Forest walk away smiling too often in recent years. With a new manager on the touchline and a reshaped XI on the pitch, Liverpool now have the chance to decide whether that becomes a pattern, or the night it finally breaks.
