Wirtz: Liverpool Carry Rest Advantage into Crucial Forest Clash on 22.02.2026
Wirtz is noted here as a reference point while attention centers on Nottingham Forest’s Premier League meeting with Liverpool on 22 February 2026. The visitors travel having enjoyed a weekend without fixture congestion, while Forest return from a midweek Europa League trip that altered their preparation.
Wirtz — Development details
Nottingham Forest enter the match on a three-game unbeaten run but remain hampered by inconsistent attacking form, most recently drawing 0-0 with Wolves. Managerial change has been swift: Sean Dyche has been replaced by Vitor Pereira, who made his debut midweek in the Europa League with a 3-0 away win at Fenerbahçe. Despite that victory, Forest still list multiple absentees, with Chris Wood, John Victor, Willy Boly and Matz Sels unavailable.
Liverpool come into the fixture off a 3-0 FA Cup win over Brighton and have not played since that victory, giving them extended recovery time. Statistical contrasts underline the shift in momentum: Liverpool average 2. 50 goals per game, maintain a 60% win rate in recent matches noted, and collect an average of 1. 75 points per away game. Their defensive numbers on the road are strong — they keep clean sheets in 75% of away matches and concede on average 0. 75 goals per away game. Liverpool’s underlying numbers include an xG of 2. 09 for goals scored and 1. 23 for goals conceded.
Context and escalation
The match carries added narrative weight after Nottingham’s earlier 3-0 win at Anfield in November, one of the season’s notable results. That historic victory sits alongside a worrying league position: Forest are placed 17th and survive by a narrow margin, with just three points separating them from a relegation rival. The managerial switch to Pereira produced an emphatic European win, but the travel to Istanbul and the quick turnaround have compressed the club’s domestic preparation window.
By contrast, Liverpool’s schedule provided rest and continuity; they have won four of their last five matches across competitions. Pundits and former professionals have voiced expectations for the game: Harry Redknapp forecasted a 1-2 scoreline for Liverpool, while Mark Lawrenson, Chris Sutton and Knows Jones forecast 0-1 outcomes. Paul Merson offered a 0-2 prediction. Those views underscore a prevailing belief that Liverpool’s form and freshness give them an edge.
Immediate impact
The differing recovery times present a clear cause-and-effect: Forest’s Europa League tie and subsequent travel left the squad less time to prepare, and Pereira rotated key players after taking the lead in that match. That rotation, combined with travel fatigue, reduced Nottingham’s preparation window. Liverpool’s single match since Sunday and absence of additional injuries allowed them more rest and targeted training ahead of the fixture.
Home-form figures add further immediacy. Forest’s City Ground statistics show an average of 1. 50 points per home game, a defensive record conceding just 0. 25 goals per home match and keeping a clean sheet in 75% of home fixtures; however, the side failed to score in 50% of home games, highlighting the attack’s vulnerability. For Liverpool, the away defensive solidity and higher scoring average translate into a measurable advantage when combined with superior rest.
Forward outlook
The fixture on 22 February 2026 itself is the next concrete milestone; team selections and how Pereira manages the squad following the European win will determine immediate outcomes. Betting lines noted in previews favor an away victory, reflecting Liverpool’s statistical edge and the recovery imbalance. What makes this notable is the compressed calendar: Forest’s European success has improved morale but also constrained preparation time, while Liverpool’s recent break from competition has left them better rested and statistically sharper on both ends of the pitch.
Confirmed signals to watch before kickoff include final squad announcements that will clarify whether Forest persist with the rotated players from Istanbul and whether Liverpool field the same attacking structure that produced their recent cup win. The game will test whether Pereira’s European momentum can translate into Premier League points despite the limited turnaround.
