Pizy

Oh nice, didn’t realize Anthony Gordon was injured and out for this. That’s a huge bonus. Almiron and Harvey Barnes can definitely still cause problems with their pace but they’re much less scary than Gordon is when in form.

I think it’s for the best right now for Enzo to play against weaker teams for a nice long run where he can build back up to his best. Can help get the supporters who are down on him back on his side too if he progresses nicely.

Happy with everything other than Gusto at LB instead of Cucu. For me this is the kind of important game you want the combativeness and fire of Cucu in the team. I love Malo but he feels kinda shoehorned in there because Maresca would feel bad dropping him after he’s been so great over the last year. Anyways, HAVE to win this at home if we’re serious about pushing on. Got to build up that winning, machine like mentality now.

Madrid’s defending reminds me of ours in recent times. All over the shop and embarrassing.

Have to assume that both Reece & Lavia looked excellent in training over the break in order for Maresca to throw them in for such a massive game. Still a HUGE risk with Reece. This could either go spectacularly well or be a disaster, lol. Tbh, I haven’t watched much of Liverpool this season so I’m not sure how good Gakpo and Jota have been, but I’m not really as worried about them as I am of Luis Diaz. So I’m kinda glad he’s not starting. Of course, now Gakpo will score since I mentioned it. 😑

Would be a season defining win if we can pull it off and it would show that we are a serious team now that the other challengers need to respect. Going to be all about how our defense holds up from minute 1 when I expect Liverpool to try to blitz us like a bat out of hell straight from kickoff. I’m super nervous. Haven’t been as desperate for 3 points like this in a long time. As for the starting XI, I would 100% start Lavia here if we set up with a midfield 2. They’ll ruthlessly target Enzo’s lack of recovery pace if he’s in there. And I would also swap out Madueke for Neto to try to give Robertson a rough time with his constant aggression and pace.

I have no real hope for us against Liverpool or Arse in our next handful of matches simply because our defense is so inconsistent. We can look pretty damn solid at times and all over the shop and pathetic at others as we saw today. The Arse & Liverpool attacks could rip our defense to shreds, especially with suspensions and possibly a knock to Colwill. But if we’re a serious team we need to beat Newcastle and United after the break.

Can’t help but feel that having a big, powerful #9 like Giroud would’ve won us this game. We need that sort of highly experienced striker for opponents like this.

Felt like a throwback to the Chelsea from last season or the other shit ones in recent years where we got like 5 point blank chances in that second half and couldn’t score. So incredibly frustrating.

Absolutely shambolic second half. Horrible. Now missing key players at Anfield where we probably now have little to no chance. Fucking hate Forest. They looked more dangerous with 10 men than they did with 11. Embarrassing.

Enzo was doing so well first half and has now been shit in the second. Get him off for Lavia.

Palmer should be on ALL corners, ffs.

That’s unforgivable. A guy just standing alone in our box for a free header.

What in the FUCK is that defending?1!!! Seriously?!

Noni is doing exactly what you want from a winger (pressing, winning the ball high up, sprinting at defenders causing headaches, stretching the pitch) but then lets you down massively with his final decision making.

Nkunku or Felix for Jackson I think is the only change I’d make right now. Sancho was really solid and although he was extremely wasteful in the box Noni is roasting them on that right side. So don’t change them. Need a finisher in there who can receive and operate in a highly congested final third.

Very decent performance at both ends for us. Just missing that last clinical pass or shot. Also one of the few matches so far this season where we really miss a proper, big bodied #9.

As I predicted, this doesn’t look like the match for Nico. No space to run into.

Headless chicken stuff from Noni after getting in dangerous positions over and over again.

Yep. This is the sort of match where if they score first or early it’s going to be an absolute nightmare trying to break them down. But if we score early and they have to open up and go for it we can shred them.

I see they have Chris Wood starting as well as Ward-Prowse. Together with CHO their plan looks clear. Pump as many crosses and corners into the box as possible and try to win free kicks near our box. The likes of Fofana, Caicedo, and Gusto have to be hyper aware of this and not give away silly fouls in our half or Forest can absolutely punish us. We've seen how Ward-Prowse can kill us in the past with his delivery.

Hopefully our players seeing everyone around us win yesterday gives them even more desire to win today. If we want to be serious about the top 4 then we can’t be losing or dropping points at home against Forest when we’re in a good run of form. Must win match. Slightly disappointed that Noni starts again. Needs a big performance here to justify him now being a nailed on starter when Neto looked really dangerous midweek.

I’d absolutely swap out Madueke for Neto for this. Noni needs to be continuously pushed to improve his levels and him being a nailed on starter when he hasn’t been killing it in the past few matches isn’t right. Tbh, I can see a match where even Nico Jackson isn’t the right forward to start with. We should probably expect Forest to be super compact and deep sitting in a solid low block, right? So that really nullifies how effective Jackson can be. Imo, perhaps we should go with our best attackers who excel in tight, restricted space against a deep bus? Either Felix or Nkunku should start.

Absolutely must win tomorrow then against a very stubborn side. Especially with the run of fixtures we have coming up compared to some of the other top teams. They’ll be starting easy runs whilst we have a super tough one. Have to have all 3 points at home entering the international break to maintain confidence and momentum.

Liverpool really couldn’t have hand picked an easier start to the season. Their fixtures have been a joke.