Thiago Alcantara set to return to the starting lineup
Liverpool’s Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara is expected to make his first Premier League start since February 4th as Liverpool face Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday afternoon. After completing a full week of training, the 32-year-old is likely to be included in the starting lineup. Thiago’s return from injury in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield and a late cameo in their match against Leeds United on Monday, suggests that he is in good form and may well be a key player for Liverpool in this weekend’s game.
Liverpool’s chances of securing a place in the Champions League
Liverpool is currently sitting nine points behind the Champions League places in the Premier League table. Despite this, their recent 6-1 win against Leeds United has given them a glimmer of hope of securing a place in Europe’s premier competition next season. Liverpool will be hoping to secure a win against Nottingham Forest as they try to close the gap on the teams ahead of them in the Premier League table.
However, Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, confirmed on Friday that Roberto Firmino will miss the upcoming matches against West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Nottingham Forest. This news is a significant blow to Liverpool’s hopes of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.
Luis Diaz’s return to the squad
Luis Diaz is another player who is expected to play a role in Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest. The Colombian recently recovered from a long-term knee injury and is likely to have another second-half cameo against Nottingham Forest. Diaz had previously made his first appearance in six months as a substitute in Liverpool’s game against Leeds United on Monday. Alongside Thiago, Diaz’s return to the squad is seen as a boost to Liverpool’s midfield, and he could provide the team with the attacking impetus they need.
Key absentees for Liverpool
Despite the return of some key players, Liverpool will still be without some important players for the Nottingham Forest game. Calvin Ramsay, Naby Keita, and Stefan Bajcetic are all set to miss the game due to their respective injuries. This means that Liverpool’s defense will be stretched, and they will need to be at their best to keep Nottingham Forest at bay.
Liverpool’s squad available for the Nottingham Forest game
Despite the absence of some key players, Liverpool still has a strong squad to choose from for the Nottingham Forest game. Adrian, Alisson, and Caoimhin Kelleher are all available as goalkeepers, and defenders Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Kostas Tsimikas, Nat Phillips, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all fit and ready to play. Liverpool will be hoping that their squad depth will be enough to secure a win against Nottingham Forest and keep their hopes of securing a place in the top four alive.
