Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Live Match Updates, Stats, and Table Stakes — Sunday, February 22

NOTTINGHAM, England — It's 0-0 at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool gets underway in a Premier League fixture that carries significant implications for both clubs. Kick-off was at 9:00 AM ET on Sunday, February 22, and the game is live right now — Forest pressing hard from the first whistle, already boasting six total shots compared to Liverpool's two through the opening stages.

This Nottingham Forest - Liverpool clash pits a side fighting to escape the drop zone against a stuttering Reds outfit that has slipped dramatically from the Premier League summit. It is, by every measure, a match that neither club can afford to lose.

Live Score: Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool — 0-0 (In Progress)

Forest have come out sharp. Through the early phase of the match, Nuno Espírito Santo's side leads the shot count 6-2, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi particularly lively. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has been isolated through the opening period, with Nottingham Forest winning the physical battle in midfield.

The only note on the card so far: a yellow card shown to a Forest player in the 20th minute — the lone disciplinary event of a feisty opening.

Nottingham Forest Starting Lineup vs Liverpool

Nuno has named a gritty, energetic starting XI built around Gibbs-White's creativity and the pace of Hudson-Odoi and Dan Ndoye on the flanks. Lorenzo Lucca leads the line as the lone striker. Ibrahim Sangaré anchors a deep midfield alongside Ryan Yates, with Omari Hutchinson adding a dynamic option in behind.

NFO Starting XI: Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Yates, Hutchinson, Aina, Lucca, Milenkovic, Hudson-Odoi, Morato, Igor Jesus, Murillo

Liverpool Starting Lineup — Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike Lead Attack

Arne Slot's Liverpool side features Mohamed Salah in the XI alongside Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike leading the forward line. Giorgi Mamardashvili starts in goal — not Alisson, who drops to the bench. Virgil van Dijk captains the backline, with Milos Kerkez at left back. Ryan Gravenberch controls the midfield alongside Alexis Mac Allister.

LFC Starting XI: Mamardashvili, Ramsay, Van Dijk, Gomez, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Gakpo, Ekitike, Salah

Why This Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool Match Matters So Much

A glance at the Premier League table tells the story immediately. Nottingham Forest sit 17th — in the relegation zone — with 28 points from 27 matches. They are only three points clear of West Ham, who occupy 18th. Three consecutive draws and a defeat in their last five outings have drained confidence at the City Ground, and today's fixture against a Liverpool side that should theoretically be above them presents a golden opportunity to steal three crucial points.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have endured one of the most baffling collapses in the club's recent history. Arne Slot's Reds sit sixth in the table with just 43 points — 15 behind Arsenal who lead the division — having lost eight of their 27 games this season. A string of away defeats and mounting injury concerns have killed any realistic title ambition, and the conversation around Anfield has shifted entirely toward securing European qualification.

Premier League Table Context: Top and Bottom

Forest's Form and the Relegation Fight

The last five Premier League matches for Nottingham Forest have produced only four points — a 2-1 win at West Ham in January feels a long time ago now. Back-to-back goalless draws against Arsenal and Wolves, combined with a 3-1 defeat at Leeds, have left Nuno's side looking dangerously light on attacking firepower.

Lorenzo Lucca, signed in the January window from Udinese, has shown flashes but is yet to find consistent form in the Premier League. Morgan Gibbs-White remains the heartbeat of everything Forest do going forward — and his early intensity in this Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool fixture suggests he is acutely aware of what is at stake.

Liverpool's Season of Underperformance

Liverpool entered 2025-26 as many analysts' pick to challenge Arsenal for the title after Arne Slot's impressive debut season. Instead, inconsistency has been their defining trait. Eight defeats — a number that would have been unthinkable under Jürgen Klopp at full throttle — and a failure to grind out results against lower-half sides have exposed genuine defensive frailties even with Van Dijk nominally fit.

Mohamed Salah, now 33, remains their undisputed talisman, but the Egyptian's output has dipped from historic levels. Hugo Ekitike leads the line with genuine pace and promise, but the system around him is still finding coherence.

A defeat today at the City Ground would put further pressure on Slot heading into March, with fixtures against Manchester City and Tottenham following shortly after in the schedule.

What to Watch in the Second Half

With the game locked at 0-0, the second half of Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool promises to be decisive. Forest will look to leverage their early shot volume into a genuine lead, while Slot will likely make adjustments to get Salah into more central positions. The City Ground crowd — one of the most raucous atmospheres in England when the stakes are this high — should play a significant role in driving Nottingham Forest forward.

All eyes are on the City Ground. Every goal, every tackle, and every decision matters enormously in what has become one of the most pressure-packed Premier League fixtures of Gameweek 27.