League leaders Liverpool look to avenge their lone defeat of the season when they return to Premier League action on Tuesday evening, visiting a Nottingham Forest side that has emerged as a surprising title challenger.
Back in September, Callum Hudson-Odoi's 72nd-minute winner at Anfield completed what was the most shocking result of the season to date, a 1-0 Forest victory.
The surprise has worn off in the months since in the Trees' first full season under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Although Arne Slot's Liverpool (14-1-4, 46 points) quickly recovered to build what is now a six-point lead atop the table, Forest (12-4-4, 40 points) are one of the two sides on the other side of that gap, in third behind Arsenal on goal difference.
And with the second half of the fixture list beginning, Slot says Nottingham Forest no longer have to prove their status.
Arne 😁 pic.twitter.com/1PkyWF3noJ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 13, 2025
"I've always said you can judge the table best halfway through the season," Slot said. "That moment is there now, so if Forest is then up there with us, with Arsenal, Chelsea and City and all the others, then they definitely are a team that is in competition with us and with the other teams. They deserve to be treated like this if you look at the way they play and if you look at their results."
Forest are also in better form than the Reds, having won seven in a row in all competitions and six straight in the league.
That includes victories over Manchester United, Aston Villa and Tottenham and clean sheets in the last four league fixtures.
While it's the kind of run that may make the general public take Forest more seriously, Espirito Santo says nothing has changed inside the squad.
"The same message as always: It's day by day, we didn't achieve anything yet," he said. "We will work to the end to see what's possible. We are doing well but nothing changes in our approach. We know our strengths and weaknesses. Let's play the games."
Liverpool were held to a 2-2 home draw by Manchester United in their last league fixture, and their 1-0 loss at Tottenham in the Leg 1 of the League Cup semifinal marked their first away defeat in any competition.
But after playing a heavily roasted squad in a 4-0 home win over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round, Slot has nearly his full squad healthy.
That includes Mo Salah, who has 18 goals and 13 assists in the league in the final year of his contract.