Related items

• Liverpool prepared for 'difficult' December away games, insists Slot

  Arne Slot said his Liverpool players are relishing the December fixture list that will see his side play six of their eight games away from Anfield in all competitions this month. 

  Liverpool make the trip to St. James' Park on Wednesday to face Newcastle, buoyed by their 2-0 win over Manchester City that put them nine points clear at the top of the table. 

  Slot has enjoyed a seamless transition since taking the reins at Anfield, winning 18 of his first 20 games in all competitions, while also averaging 2.67 points per game so far. 

  The Reds remain the only unbeaten side in the division away from home, winning five of their six games on the road, only dropping points against Arsenal in October. 

  Liverpool also have an impressive record at St. James' Park, winning five of their last six away league games against the Magpies, with their current streak of three their longest ever winning away run against them. 

  While Slot acknowledged their run of away games would be "difficult", he insisted that his players are ready for the challenge to keep their early-season momentum going. 

  "If Liverpool is [first, second, third or fourth], it is always a special game for the teams we face," Slot said. If Liverpool fans come, the stadium is sold out, everybody wants to play us and everyone wants the best game against us, like they have against Arsenal, Man City and the others.

  "The good thing is for me, it's not only us who play that many games. For example, we face Everton next. They've had a game during the week as well, so mostly, we are facing teams that are rested for a week because we played in the Champions League.

  "I wasn't aware that six of the [next] nine are away, but now you tell me, it makes it even more difficult, but we're ready for it."

  Slot was also able to provide an injury update on goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has missed the last nine games in all competitions with a hamstring injury. 

  But in the Brazilian's absence, Caoimhin Kelleher has been a dependable replacement, keeping five clean sheets, including three consecutive in the Champions League. 

  Kelleher starred in Liverpool's win over Real Madrid by saving Kylian Mbappe's spot-kick. He has now saved three of his four penalties for the Reds in all competitions. 

  However, Slot has said that Alisson is set to return between the sticks at the end of the month. 

  "I think I have been clear a few weeks ago about what my position is about our goalkeepers, but we are just waiting for Alisson to be completely fit," Slot said. 

  "Caoimhin [Kelleher] is doing too well to put Alisson on goal if he's only 50%. That would not be good for Alisson and it would not be good for the team.

  "He's getting there, it might take a few more extra days, but he's getting closer.

  "Like I've always said, the end phase of a rehab is always the period where you feel like 'okay, is he really there or does he need extra days?'

  "But he will be in goal before the end of December if things continue like they are now."

• Nuno looking beyond Man City's poor form ahead of clash with Nottingham Forest

  Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo insists Manchester City remain a top-quality side despite their poor run of form heading into Wednesday's Premier League contest.

  City have gone seven games without a win in all competitions – the longest-such streak in Pep Guardiola's managerial career – with six of those ending in defeat.

  Sunday's 2-0 loss at leaders Liverpool leaves the reigning champions fifth and now 11 points adrift of the Reds, but Nuno is looking beyond this poor run of form before facing off at the Etihad Stadium.

  "It's the reality of the game – you always have ups and downs," Nuno said. "Every team has to be ready to face those moments of uncertainty when things are not going well. 

  "It's how long you stay there and how you bounce back from those moments; how you reorganise and improve. Their run doesn't take away the quality and the talent they have. 

  "Let's not forget, they're the champions and have won so much with such quality players and such a good manager. When you have such quality players and play such good football, for sure they'll turn it around."

  Recharge and go again. pic.twitter.com/H5bQhrPL74

  — Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 2, 2024

  City are only one point and one place better off than Forest, who put back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Newcastle United behind them with a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at the weekend.

  Guardiola, who has won 18 trophies across his eight full seasons as City boss, is determined to battle on having only just signed a new two-year contract.

  "I've lived better before than now," he said. "But I'm incredibly honest with myself and, when we were winning a lot, my perspective was I was fortunate to live that.

  "Now I'm not depressed that everything is going bad. When I think I cannot do it we will talk with the club but I feel that I want to do it and life is not in all departments perfect."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Manchester City - Erling Haaland

  Haaland has failed to score in back-to-back Premier League games for City, although he does still have 15 goals in his past 11 games at the Etihad Stadium in all competitions.

  The leading Premier League top scorer this season, who has 12 goals in 13 matches overall, has also netted four times in two games on home soil against Forest.

  Nottingham Forest - Chris Wood

  Wood scored the only goal of the game in the 1-0 win over Ipswich via the penalty spot and also has 12 goals in his past 13 away Premier League away games for Forest.

  The New Zealand international is looking to become the first Reds player to score in four successive away games in the competition, and the first in the English top flight for the club since Garry Birtles in 1983-84.

  Ready for more? pic.twitter.com/zpomnE4CtA

  — Premier League (@premierleague) December 2, 2024

  MATCH PREDICTION: MAN CITY WIN

  City have conceded three-plus goals in both of their past two home games in all competitions, which they last managed in 1963 when going on to be relegated from the top flight.

  Guardiola's men may be in poor form, but they are unbeaten in their past eight league games against Forest stretching back to a 3-2 loss in the second tier in December 1997.

  Forest have also lost their past four away league games against City by an aggregate scoreline of 12-0, while they are winless in their past seven top-flight visits since 1989.

  The Reds have lost their past five away games against reigning top-flight champions by an aggregate scoreline of 21-2, meanwhile, since beating Manchester City 2-1 in December 1994.

  If the omens were not already stacked against Forest, opponents City are unbeaten in their past 31 home Premier League games on a Wednesday, winning each of the past 20.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Manchester City win - 66.8%
  Nottingham Forest win - 14.8%
  Draw - 18.4%

• Slot's flying Premier League start unprecedented, claims Wright-Phillips

  Shaun Wright-Phillips has been blown away by Arne Slot's remarkable start as Liverpool head coach.

  Slot took over ahead of the season following Jurgen Klopp's departure.

  Having enjoyed success at Feyenoord, Slot has hit the ground running at Anfield.

  He has lost just one game so far, with Liverpool leading the Premier League by nine points, while they are top of the Champions League standings with a perfect record and are into the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

  Slot's Reds are averaging 2.3 goals per game, while conceding just 0.6 on average, and former England international Wright-Phillips has been hugely impressed.

  "I don't think I have [seen such a strong start]. He's done tremendously well in so many phases of the game," Wright-Phillips told Stats Perform.

  "If you think of Klopp's style — high-risk, high-energy football — Slot hasn't changed too much but doesn't risk the ball as much.

   

  "They still play a similar direct style, as we saw against City. It seemed like they went direct more often than in previous games.

  "He seems to have a great handle on it. It'll be interesting to see how they bounce back after the Christmas period, which will be tough with Champions League games and back-to-back Premier League fixtures.

  "He may not be used to playing that regularly, so it'll be interesting to see how he handles this period."

  Liverpool are nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, which is their biggest lead in the competition since they won the title in the 2019-20 season.

  According to the Opta supercomputer, the Reds now have an 83.7% chance of going on to win the title.