David James
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Nottingham Forest are not a free flowing, free scoring team at home. Liverpool are a free flowing, free scoring team away.

This is going to be a strong, confident, Liverpool against a stubborn Forest side. Something has got to give.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground

Image source, Reuters

There were plenty of fans outside the City Ground three hours before kick off.

The Boot Room - a pub on the corner outside the ground - had the music blaring and a DJ outside while the fish and chip shop opposite Trent Bridge was already doing good business.

There was also a 10-minute queue for media accreditation in the press room - a sign of how much interest there is in Forest and what this game could mean this season.

Clinton Morrison
Former Republic of Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

It is a huge football match. I think it is bigger for Nottingham Forest and it is Liverpool's to lose.

If Forest win tonight, people need to take them seriously.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at The City Ground

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has overseen a remarkable renaissance at this great old club, the rich history with Liverpool at home and abroad under Brian Clough and Bob Paisley being revisited before this vital Premier League clash.

No wonder, then, that Marinakis was so warmly received by Forest fans as he made his way around the pitch in the build-up.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham United

New West Ham boss Graham Potter, speaking to TNT: "As a team we need to attack and defend well. That's been the focus. Be a good team, a balanced team."

West Ham United

West Ham manager Graham Potter speaking to TNT Sports about what he has tried to instil at his new club: "Just the foundation of being a team and collectively defending together and attacking together and being together on the pitch. It is not about individuals. It is about the team and that has been the mentality. Hopefully, the players can be just free to play.

"It is always a tough game against Marco Silva's team. They have a great understanding of what they are doing. We are really excited and looking forward to the game. Hopefully, it is a good one."

West Ham United

At 29 years and 26 days, tonight's West Ham starting XI against Fulham is the oldest the former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter has named in a Premier League match.

Image source, Getty Images

James Jones, Fan writer

We have known ever since Michail Antonio's car crash in December that a new striker needs to be at the very top of the priority list this January. Niclas Fullkrug's hamstring injury means it needs to be at the very top of the priority list this week.

Reports claim the Hammers have ramped up efforts to get a deal for a striker done as soon as possible now that Potter has only Danny Ings available as a fit first-team forward. The manager has already hinted he sees Mohammed Kudus as a potential option, but while that might be a good short-term fix, it means removing him from a position where he is more effective.

Links to Evan Ferguson, Taiwo Awoniyi and Jonathan David are doing the rounds, and any one of them would no doubt be a welcome addition to Potter's squad.

It is all about whoever we can get in as quickly as possible. There are so many big games coming up and we cannot afford to spend too long having to play our best players out of position in order to fill gaps.

Potter will have to make do with what he has got against Fulham on Tuesday but, in an ideal world, we will have a new striker through the door before hosting Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Wishful thinking? Perhaps, but that is how urgent this striker search needs to be.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was full of praise for Chelsea ahead of their tie at Stamford Bridge tonight.

Chelsea come into the game off the back of two draws and two defeats.

"They are having a fantastic season, they are using the depth of their squad, they are changing their starting 11s and everyone is playing a lot and they're a lot more familiar with their roles. They are doing very well."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca speaking to TNT Sports: "It's always important to win games, probably even more so tonight. But we prepare for the game in the same way and will do our best to get the three points.

On Josh Acheampong: "He is doing well as I said before many times. With young players you have to find the right moment. He is good on the ball, off the ball, a serious and humble guy, so we are very happy with him."

On Romeo Lavia: "Romeo is very important for us. It was unfortunate he was injured for a long time. Hopefully he and Reece [James] can be with us until the end now."

On finding goals: "It happens. Sometimes you win the game at the end or sometimes you concede a goal at the end. It is football. We are going to try to win the games not waiting for the end if we can."

On Bournemouth: "A very tough game. They have been unbeaten for eight or nine games. They are intense, they are high pressing, they are well organised. It will be very difficult."

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to TNT Sports: "The resilience of the players has been key. We have been in a difficult period, particularly injury-wise, and the players have kept performing well.

"We don't have a proper number nine but we do have some players that can start in that position and have some dynamism and can find good spaces. In the end it is not just about who starts up front, and we have some players that can also come off the bench."

On previous results against big teams this season: "Today against Chelsea away is a different story, we have to up our level. We have been doing good things so I hope we can up our level and give them a good game."

On Chelsea: "The most difficult thing will be in the second half when they can change four or five players and maintain the quality. We have to make sure we go the full 90 or 100 minutes defending the duels against difficult players."

It didn't seem too long ago when Chelsea were being put forward as Liverpool's closest title challengers. Fast forward a few weeks and they find themselves 10 points adrift and battling to remain in the top four.

Enzo Maresca's side are winless in four and face a Bournemouth side who are on a club record eight-game unbeaten.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Freddie Pye, Fan writer

Manchester City fans have always known he was special. Those same fans have long been crying out for him to be granted more opportunities on the field.

Pep Guardiola knows he is a unique talent, too. But so do other clubs, and an exit may not be too far away.

You would not be wrong to think that was a description of Cole Palmer's situation before his departure from Etihad Stadium back in 2023 and, in many ways, it does entirely suit.

This time, however, it is a reflection of the moment James McAtee finds himself in.

A lifelong Manchester City fan, McAtee is emerging from the same youth squad that has thrust Palmer, Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia and Morgan Rogers into the Premier League limelight, but he has had to bide his time when it comes to sufficient chances in Guardiola's first-team squad.

A moment of brilliant to create a second goal against Leicester City before the turn of the year reminded fans of just what can happen when the 22-year-old is given the licence to express himself freely on the pitch.

And then came the FA Cup third round, and a sensational hat-trick and overall second-half showing to further stress just what a huge mistake Manchester City would be making to let go of such an elite young prospect.

It is time for Guardiola to show exactly why he worked so hard to keep hold of the player last summer, and give him chance to excel in a largely faltering City attacking set-up to help drive the club into a new and fresh generation.

Failing that, you could be about to see the emergence of England's next world superstar... showcasing his talents at one of the continent's other great football clubs after being snapped up for a small fee.

Chris Sutton
BBC Football Expert

I was hoping Brentford would have a real go at the FA Cup this season, but they made a load of changes for their tie with Plymouth, and they ended up on the wrong end of the biggest shock of round three.

I can understand Bees' manager Thomas Frank's point of view, because he can argue his side have a busy schedule with some tough fixtures coming up - after this game, they host Liverpool on Saturday and I am there for Radio 5 Live.

He decided to give some fringe players an opportunity to get a game and impress him, against a struggling Championship team who had not won an away game all season, but it did not work out.

The Bees started the season with such a strong home record but Saturday's defeat means they have lost their past three matches there.

Manchester City, meanwhile, are starting to build some better form again, and their big win over Salford City at the weekend was their third in a row.

I was a bit surprised about the news Kyle Walker could be leaving City. He has not had the best of seasons, but he has probably been the best right-back the Premier League has seen.

Walker has been a huge part of what City have achieved under Pep Guardiola and I would be sad to see him leave the Premier League if he does go abroad.

In terms of this game, I feel like City are on a bit of a roll. I've already done something which I promised I wouldn't do in Fantasy Football, which is put Erling Haaland back in my team, and captained him.

It was a masterstroke from myself, and my assistant, because he scored twice in their last Premier League game against West Ham.

I am expecting Haaland to carry on his goalscoring form here, and I feel like City are going to edge it. I don't think it will be easy, though, and I cannot see them keeping a clean sheet.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

What Kyle Walker has delivered to Manchester City has been absolutely incredible.

What we do know is he loves Man City and has a great relationship with the fans and the staff.