This is a hard one to call. Liverpool have lost seven of their past 10 matches in all competitions, but could they be one of the teams who benefit from the international break?

Forest beat them at Anfield last season - I was there for Radio 5 Live - but that was under Nuno, and they are yet to win anywhere on the road in this campaign.

I don't see that changing this weekend, either. Sean Dyche has picked up some points at the City Ground since he took over as Forest boss at the end of October, but they are meek away from home and I don't see them keeping Liverpool out.

Liverpool have to click sooner or later, and if their attack gets going here then they could overpower my boyhood club.

Mo Salah needs to come to the fore for Arne Slot's side, and so does Alexander Isak.

For someone who forced his move to Liverpool through in the summer, Isak has done very little for his new club so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool will hope it's a fresh start after the international break and getting goalkeeper Alisson Becker back from injury might help.

Arne Slot will certainly be asked about the Brazilian's fitness after a hamstring injury.

Jeremie Frimpong has also been out with a hamstring issue so we can expect an update on him, while we should find out where Alexander Isak is up to after playing half an hour for Sweden last weekend.

The striker is on his way back after a groin injury and didn't feature in Sweden's second match of the international window on Tuesday.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a case of feast or famine for defending champions Liverpool this season, which started with five consecutive victories but has gone alarmingly downhill since then.

Six defeats in their last seven Premier League games has left Arne Slot's side with a mountain to climb to get back into the title race.

They face Nottingham Forest on Saturday, one of three matches in their next four fixtures against sides in the bottom half.

Does the fightback start here?

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

You can tell our readers are itching to talk about the north London derby.

That chat will dominate our page after midday.

But first we are going to focus on defending champions Liverpool, who find themselves down in eighth place in the table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal after 11 games...

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport Man City reporter

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It's a rare early start at Manchester City today for a 09:00 GMT news conference on this bitterly cold Friday morning.

That may be because of travel arrangements for Saturday's trip to Newcastle as Premier League teams make their return to action following the international break.

City comprehensively defeated champions Liverpool in their previous game and statistics show Pep Guardiola's side have covered more ground this season than any other top-flight side.

Do the running stats show they are fully re-energised? Have they put the disappointment of last season behind them?

Let's wait to see what Guardiola says.

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport Newcastle United reporter

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You suspect it has not been much of a “break” for Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe.

Not after what happened at Brentford in the final game before the latest international window.

It was clear a lot of work needed to be done after Newcastle failed to deliver on the road once more to leave Howe's side just two points above the relegation zone following a 3-1 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium.

It feels like something needs to change, whether it is system, personnel, style or a combination of all three.

Given their issues away from home, Newcastle will be glad to be back at St James’ Park, even if in-form Manchester City lie in wait.

These are the occasions Newcastle certainly need no added motivation to get up for and though Howe will be measured, as ever, expect the head coach to repeatedly talk up the need for a response at today's news conference.

Howe also looks set to provide the latest on Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa’s return dates and the prospect of Anthony Gordon being fit enough to start on Saturday following his recent hip issue.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will likely be faced with questions about the return of Cole Palmer ahead of Saturday's early kick-off at Burnley.

Reports suggest that he may hold his star attacker back, with Barcelona and Arsenal to come next week.

There is also concern about Moises Caicedo's availability given he played two lots of 90 minutes for Ecuador in friendly matches over the international break.

Maresca will likely also be asked to clarify whether 'bomb squad' member Axel Disasi has been promoted back into the main squad, with fellow defender Benoit Badiashile also expected back.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Keep those messages coming in.

We are going to focus on Liverpool in a moment, with Arne Slot due to hold his news conference at 09:00 GMT.

But we have a few other news conferences taking place in the first hour.

We will get to each in turn.

Our reporters are on site and standing by to bring you the latest, so let's quickly catch up with the latest from Manchester City, Newcastle and Chelsea...

As ever, we want to hear your thoughts on the return of the Premier League.

What are your predictions for the coming months?

This is open to all fans, of all top-flight clubs - but the focus for the first hour will be Liverpool and Manchester City.

Can Liverpool start afresh? How key are the next few months for Arne Slot's side?

And can City turn up the heat on Arsenal?

Use the 'Get Involved' button to send us your thoughts...

So much has happened since the last Premier League game.

But Manchester City supporters will not need reminding where we left off.

Pep Guardiola's side cut the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to four points with a 3-0 win at home to Liverpool...

Premier League

Saturday

• Burnley v Chelsea (12:30)
• Bournemouth v West Ham
• Brighton v Brentford
• Fulham v Sunderland
• Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
• Wolves v Crystal Palace
• Newcastle v Manchester City (17:30)

Sunday

• Leeds v Aston Villa (14:00)
• Arsenal v Tottenham (16:30)

Monday

• Manchester United v Everton (20:00)

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Let's get the ball rolling by taking a quick look at the who is playing who this weekend, before reminding ourselves of the table...

The first couple of hours are unusually packed this morning.

We will kick off with Liverpool's Arne Slot from around 09:00 GMT.

Then we will hear from the managers of Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford.

That's the plan at least, but it's a movable feast. As always, we will interrupt the schedule to bring you the latest breaking news.

And we have another 10 news conferences from midday, including the latest from the Arsenal and Tottenham camps before Sunday's north London derby.

Image source, Getty Images

Did you enjoy the final international break of the year?

Well, put summer travel plans to the back of your mind for now as it's Premier League all the way until our national sides reconvene in March.

Strap yourselves in for a flurry of manager news conferences today, including key team news, before that all-important FPL recap from about 15:30 GMT.