Paul Merson shares a confident Liverpool prediction for Sunday’s huge encounter.

Paul Merson has shared his prediction for what he calls a “humungous” clash between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool this Sunday.

Liverpool travel to the City Ground on the back of impressive victories over Sunderland and Brighton. However, their upcoming opponents have proven to be a difficult test for Arne Slot, defeating him twice at Anfield and holding him to a draw in his previous visit to Trentside 13 months ago.

The Premier League champions will also be cautious of a potential “new manager bounce” following the appointment of Vitor Pereira, Forest’s fourth manager in what has been a turbulent season for the relegation-threatened side.
Merson backs Liverpool to respond

Despite Liverpool’s recent struggles against Forest — including a heavy 3-0 defeat at Anfield in November — Merson believes the Reds will make amends by taking maximum points this weekend.

Writing in his weekly Premier League predictions column for Sportskeeda, the Sky Sports pundit described the fixture as massive, saying: “This is a humungous game at both ends of the table.”

He added that Liverpool’s dominant display against Sunderland stood out, noting that no other side had dismantled them in such fashion at the Stadium of Light this season. Merson also highlighted the improved form of Ibrahima Konaté and Mohamed Salah, suggesting both are rediscovering their best levels.

According to him, Liverpool’s team selection has also become more settled. Whereas there had previously been uncertainty around the starting XI, he now believes at least nine players are guaranteed starters — a stability he feels has made a significant difference. Merson ultimately predicted a comfortable 2-0 win for Liverpool at the City Ground.

A potential stumbling block?
On paper, Liverpool’s recent upturn in form and their superior league position — sixth compared to Forest’s 17th — would make Slot’s side strong favourites, particularly with Champions League qualification in sight.

However, football rarely follows expectations. Arsenal’s recent collapse from 2-0 up to draw with bottom-placed Wolves serves as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed. Sunday’s encounter carries several warning signs for Liverpool supporters.

Forest’s positive record against Slot could weigh on the Dutchman psychologically, while Pereira’s history of sparking immediate improvement — as he did at Molineux last season — only adds to the sense that this could be a tricky outing.

That said, Liverpool have genuine reasons for optimism. Players such as Konaté and Salah are showing renewed sharpness, while last summer’s signings are beginning to influence matches consistently. Alongside the highly praised Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez has also impressed in recent weeks.

The Reds’ goal output has improved significantly after a run of draws at the start of 2026 — something Slot referenced in his pre-match press conference. Liverpool can therefore head to the City Ground with confidence, though another strong display will be required to secure victory.

With Manchester United not in action until Monday night, Liverpool have an opportunity to temporarily move level on points with their rivals in fourth place — and it’s a chance they cannot afford to squander.