Nottingham Forest

Saveena Johal
Fan writer

For Forest, the motivation in all our fixtures now is to minimise the damage, especially with the looming possibility of a points deduction - so that we can escape relegation.

Liverpool’s momentum is high off the back of their win in the Carabao Cup final. That's stark contrast to our progression following a sore loss in the FA Cup.

Jurgen Klopp has a weakened side after a multitude of injuries but however much we despise them, it has to be said Liverpool’s performances have still been very good.

To get a result tomorrow then, perfection is a must. Inevitably, defending set pieces will be our weakness but we simply have to do better to control the opposition side.

There were positives to draw from our most recent match, including Felipe’s masterclass, Divock Origi's sharpness and Neco Williams' consistent enthusiasm. We are all hoping Taiwo Awoniyi continues to improve as he could be a big factor in the result.

Forest could beat Liverpool at home home for the second season running, but - under current circumstances - a draw would be more than welcome.

Saveena Johal can be found at Punjabi Forest, external

Image source, Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo is not shirking the challenge against league leaders Liverpool but accepts "it will require a lot of effort" from his team at the City Ground on Saturday.

"It will require a lot of energy from us and we have to work and prepare hard for it," the Nottingham Forest boss said. "It will be a difficult one but we look forward to it."

Liverpool have won seven of their past eight Premier League games and Nuno has lost all six of his top-flight meetings with Jurgen Klopp's side.

However, Forest have never lost at home to Liverpool in the Premier League. If that proud record is to continue, Nuno knows they need to be "defensively aware" of Klopp's attacking threats.

"We need to be clinical with the chances we have and control the game because they have real speed and quality," he added.

"It will require a lot of effort from us but we have to keep this idea of playing and going forward no matter what opponent we have because that’s what our team needs.

"Our players need the freedom because they have the talent, so let’s reinforce the things that we do good and defensively we have to be aware of the quality of Liverpool players."

You can listen to live match commentary of Nottingham Forest v Liverpool from 15:00 on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been picking his underrated XI of the Premier League season so far.

Morgan Gibbs-White

He had Nuno Espirito Santo as his manager at Wolves, but he wasn’t really involved so he took a loan out to Sheffield United, which was a really impressive loan.

He scored goals, he was dynamic and he got into key positions - and then all of a sudden every club wanted to take him!

And he said: 'You know what? I’m going to go to Forest.’ And they took a chance on him with a decent contract and he has just got better and better.

He is unselfish and will drop back into the number six role or into wide areas when needed. He's got everything and he is definitely one to watch.

Nuno went back in and would have thought: 'What kind of player am I going to get?’ What he has got is an unselfish player with flair, ability and dynamism.

He has become the main man for them. I think that has helped him, but I think he has earned the right to be that.

I’d look at him and say they need to keep him as long as they can because he is a real threat on the pitch.

Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in the Premier League.

• Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their past 13 home league games against Liverpool, including all six in the Premier League. No side have Forest faced more times at The City Ground in the competition without ever losing, while it is the most the Reds have visited a side in the Premier League without winning.

• Only against Arsenal (18 from 1905 to 1928) have Liverpool ever had a longer run of away games without a victory against an opponent in the top flight than their current run against Forest.

• Nottingham Forest have scored in all nine of their Premier League games under Nuno Espirito Santo so far (17 goals in total), netting at least twice in seven of those. However, they have also only kept one clean sheet under the Portuguese (18 goals conceded in total).

• Liverpool have won seven of their past eight Premier League games, scoring at least three goals in each of their past six victories, and the Reds are the highest scorers in the Premier League this season with 63 goals.

• Forest manager Nuno has lost all six of his Premier League meetings with Liverpool. Only four managers have a worse 100% loss record against a side in the competition – Gary Megson v Liverpool (lost 9/9), Marco Silva v Manchester City (9/9), Paul Jewell v Manchester United(8/8) and Chris Hughton against Liverpool (7/7).

• Luis Diaz has been involved in five goals in his past five Premier League appearances for Liverpool (three goals, two assists), more than he had in his previous 25 (three goals, one assist).

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary of Nottingham Forest v Liverpool at 15:00 GMT on Saturday

Football's congested schedule is not just risking players' health but it is "killing the product", says Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Maheta Molango.

Several tournaments are expanding, which is increasing revenue streams.

Newcastle United, who qualified for their first Champions League campaign since 2002-03, have suffered the most injuries this season, with 29 across their squad, including three spells on the sidelines for Callum Wilson. They also have the highest number of days lost to injuries.

Last season, the Magpies were the only team across Europe's top five leagues that had nine outfield players feature in 75% of all league games.

However, with European football this season, their injury record per 1,000 minutes played (8.6) is actually better than Nottingham Forest (9.5) and Tottenham (10.2), who have no European football.

Manchester United and Liverpool, who have had well-documented injury issues throughout this season, also feature highly in the table.

Read more on clubs' injuries record

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest fan Sarah Brown says Nuno Espirito Santo's side need to win games before they suffer "some sort of points deduction".

Forest are awaiting their punishment after being charged with breaching Premier League financial rules, and have just seen fellow strugglers Everton have their 10-point deduction for the same offence reduced to six on appeal.

They were also knocked out of the FA Cup at the fifth-round stage by Manchester United on Wednesday.

"At 85 minutes, I turned to my husband and said: 'The last thing we need here is extra time with Liverpool on Saturday,'" she told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"We've got to get some points in the bag because we are going to get some sort of points deduction, I would have thought.

"With Everton having a reduction, it probably isn't going to be 10 and hopefully not six, but who knows with the Premier League.

"We're all a bit nervous as fans.We want to know what that's going to be, what we're looking at appealing at, so we know the numbers we need, the points we need.

"We just need to win as many games as we can. I don't think that changes anyway really in any year, but this year it's really important.

"I didn't think we'd be in the relegation zone this year, I thought we might be just a little bit out of it. I'm a bit disappointed because that team is better than last year, I think."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Breakfast from 06:20

We asked you for your thoughts on Wednesday's FA Cup tie between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Doug: Yet another game where we had chances to win. Yet another game where the lack of concentration cost us a goal against a side that we could've beaten. Our defending is very poor in set-piece situations. We must do better if we have any chance of staying up this season.

Sean: It's never good to lose any game of football but we played really well against a stuttering Manchester United. If we hit any of those second half shots either side of Andre Onana, instead of straight at him, then we score and it's a different game. The goal is another advertisement for how inconsistent VAR is currently, but there's no solving that.

John: I thought we were positive, organised and played some good football, but we're still not sharp enough to make the most of what we're creating. It's a shame to lose but no points at stake. Lots of positives and I'm glad we avoided extra-time with Liverpool coming on Saturday.

Scott: A familiar story. Just not clinical enough and Taiwo Awoniyi looks like he's struggling for fitness. We should have created more down the wings. Focus on survival now.

United fans

Charlie: This is one of the worst United teams that I have seen in the last 50 years. They are so slow out of defence and just want to play across the pitch. The tactics are totally wrong and the players are not allowed to compete as they should. We have a winger who only has a left foot. Rashford is not a centre-forward. The team plays with continental tactics.

Peter: Very average again with few indications of improvements since the Fulham match. I just don’t know why Erik ten Hag still plays Rashford, he does not deserve his place in the team anymore. With Manchester City and Liverpool coming up, heaven help us on current form.

Mike: Very poor and ineffective forward play. Simple chances missed. Antony needs to be replaced, the same as Sancho. The defence and midfield lack the necessary energy and pace. Even with the return of the injured players, this team is unlikely to win anything and they will not qualify for the Champions League.

Simon: I feel Marcus Rashford’s day has come and gone. He is no longer the forward we need. Although the passing throughout the United team was clumsy, the will and passion to succeed is clearly visible. Bruno Fernandes' free-kick to find Casemiro was brilliant. It illustrated the high quality skill that United possess.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Compared to a relegation fight and a legal battle to avoid a points deduction they can ill afford, a midweek FA Cup fifth-round tie was very much third on the list of priorities for Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who watched on from his seat in the directors' box.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo had presided over a home victory against Manchester United in his early honeymoon period after replacing Steve Cooper.

Since then, two of their three victories came in FA Cup replays against lower league Blackpool and Bristol City and, worryingly, the venom appears to have gone out of their play.

Morgan Gibbs-White's best opportunity, when he forced a superb save out of Andre Onana, turned out to be offside anyway. Divock Origi worked hard but has never been the most reliable finisher, while Taiwo Awoniyi was not his usual threat.

Once the weekend encounter at home to Liverpool is out of the way, Forest have a run of winnable fixtures that may determine their fate.

However, before that, at the beginning of next week, their legal battle begins to avoid a points deduction for breaking Premier League spending rules.

The outcome of that could be pivotal to their top-flight survival fight.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo to BBC Sport: "[Disappointing] for all of us, for our fans, for us as a team. We played good. We had good situations and we're disappointed to lose at the end.

"Not too many differences. Both teams had chances, both teams were organised. It was a good game.

"This was a competition we had expectations. Now is not the moment to regret it. The boys gave everything and they played good football.

"They [VAR] were checking a possible offside from the block. It's over. We had so many situations with Brentford and VAR. Let's forget about it and focus on what we can control.

"We have to keep on going. We have to improve a lot of things. We played good today. We defended well. We were organised. We fought. Something that didn't happen before. We have to be more clinical in front of goal.

"I'm disappointed for the fans. We all had the dream for the FA Cup. Now it’s over. We’ll try again next time."

On potential points deductions in the relegation battle: "We are aware that things outside [are happening]. We're still waiting for a decision. We can't do anything about it. We have to work and put our energy into the next game against Liverpool."

Here are the key facts and figures from Wednesday's FA Cup fifth-round game between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.

• Manchester United have reached the FA Cup quarter-final for the 48th time, more often than any other side in the competition's history.

• Bruno Fernandes has been involved in six goals in his past six FA Cup appearances (five goals, one assist), setting up Casemiro's winner for Manchester United against Forest.

• Since the start of last season, only Bruno Fernandes (five) has scored more FA Cup goals for Manchester United than Casemiro (three).

• Having progressed from their first four FA Cup ties against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest have now lost their past two against the Red Devils.

• Since the start of 2022-23, Casemiro has scored more headed goals in all competitions than any other Manchester United player, with six of his 12 strikes for the Red Devils being headers.

Casemiro scored an 89th-minute winner as Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The Brazilian flicked Bruno Fernandes' bouncing free-kick in at the near post to break the deadlock in the closing moments.

Erik ten Hag's side will host Liverpool at Old Trafford in the last eight.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?

Forest fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, United fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

The draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals has been made, with the ties set to be played on the weekend of Saturday, 16 March.

There are four games being played in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday and we will bring you every moment.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

All times are GMT

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all of the FA Cup fifth-round matches, against Kaiser Chiefs bassist and Leeds fan Simon Rix.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1 and United to win after extra-time and penalties.

When it comes to predictions, Manchester United are my new Chelsea - I get all of their results wrong.

I honestly do not know what to expect from Erik ten Hag's side. Even when they were on a winning run, they were not controlling games.

I backed United to win at the weekend too, but the worst thing about their home defeat was that Fulham fully deserved the three points.

Nottingham Forest beat United at the City Ground at the end of December and they have still got a goal or two in them, although their league form since then has not been great.

In contrast, United offered little against Fulham without injured Rasmus Hojlund to lead their line. I put Marcus Rashford in my Fantasy team and he barely had a kick.

United are good on the counter but they need someone to finish their chances, and Hojlund is such a big miss.

This tie feels like it is going to be very close, and it could go the distance, but I think United will find a way to edge it.

I do not know why, because there is more pointing towards it going the other way. I guess this is probably why I get so many United scores wrong.

Simon's prediction: 1-1 and Manchester United to win after extra-time and penalties.

This is roughly the time when Premier League teams start taking the FA Cup seriously, right?

That's definitely going to be the case with Manchester United because, once you get to the quarter-finals, you feel like it is something you can win and they are not going to win anything else.

Forest are pretty unpredictable anyway, but I think this one will go all the way to penalties.

Read all of Sutton’s predictions for the fifth-round ties here

• Watch live coverage of Nottingham Forest v Manchester United on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport

• Find out where to watch all of the fifth-round ties here

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the quarter finals of the FA Cup will take place on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT, before Chelsea's tie with Leeds United, which kicks off at 19:30.

It will be live on ITV4 and you can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app.

Former England goalkeeper David Seaman, a four-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal, will conduct the draw.

The ball numbers will be:

1. Blackburn Rovers or Newcastle United

2. Chelsea or Leeds United

3. Bournemouth or Leicester City

4. Liverpool or Southampton

5. Nottingham Forest or Manchester United

6. Wolverhampton Wanderers or Brighton & Hove Albion

7. Coventry City

8. Luton Town or Manchester City

Here are the key facts and figures before Wednesday's FA Cup fifth-round tie between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United:

• Nottingham Forest have progressed from four of their five previous FA Cup ties against Manchester United, although the only exception was the most recent, losing 1-0 in the third round in 1989-90.

• United have already lost at the City Ground this season, losing their Premier League visit in December (2-1). The Red Devils most recently lost back-to-back away games against Nottingham Forest in all competitions in December 1984.

• Forest are aiming to reach the FA Cup quarter-final for the second time in the past three seasons (also 2021-22), after having only reached the last eight in two of their previous 30 campaigns prior.

• United are looking to reach the FA Cup quarter-final for what would be a record 48th time. They are currently tied with Everton on 47 quarter-final appearances in the competition.

• Forest have drawn three of their FA Cup matches this season (W1), with both their third and fourth-round ties going to a replay. The last Premier League club to draw four or more games in a single FA Cup campaign were Middlesbrough under Gareth Southgate in 2006-07 (six).

• Bruno Fernandes has scored five goals in his past five FA Cup appearances, netting in each of his past three in a row. The last Manchester United player to score in four consecutive FA Cup games was Romelu Lukaku in 2018.

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

While in many ways Saturday's 4-2 loss to Aston Villa typified Nottingham Forest's season, perhaps it is not a result to lose too much sleep over.

Going away to a team determined to finish in the top four, as things stand, we had to be on top of our game and they had to be off theirs. That is not to say there is much to reflect on, especially the mistakes as well as the fight to come back with two goals.

But the games we have the best chance in, the games that really matter in terms of taking points off those around us, are yet to come.

Of course, Forest being Forest, we are likely to pick up points when we least expect them. But with 15 points available from matches against the clubs closest to us - Luton, Crystal Palace, Everton, Sheffield United and Burnley - you have to think those five games are the best chance of putting some distance between us and the bottom three.

With 12 Premier League fixtures left, and the uncertainty of a possible points deduction, we may well need to get to the 40-point mark to ensure safety. With the first profitability and sustainability rules hearing expected to begin in the near future, things might be a little clearer very soon.

Pat Riddell can be found at The Famous Club, external

Relegation-threatened Premier League teams have been handed a bombshell after it was announced Everton have retrieved on appeal four of the 10 points they were deducted for breaching Premier League financial rules.

Pending the other charges both they and Nottingham Forest are facing, the Toffees have moved above Forest and Brentford into 15th place and opened up a five point cushion over Luton in 18th - the final relegation place.

Both the Bees and the Hatters have a game in hand over Sean Dyche's side, but the latest update in this saga has put the Toffees back into the driving seat in the relegation battle and will leave Thomas Frank and Nuno Espirito Santo looking nervously over their shoulders.