Forest manager backs former Red as 'solution' to haunt Liverpool this weekend

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has suggested former Liverpool forward Divock Origi could step up against the club where he became a cult hero this weekend.

Forest and Liverpool go head to head at the City Ground on Saturday as Premier League action resumes, after a week of cup drama for Jurgen Klopp's men.

The Reds won the Carabao Cup on Sunday before beating Southampton to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals midweek, as they chase down an unprecedented quadruple in Klopp's final campaign as manager.

Liverpool also sit top of the table in the Premier League and face an out-of-sorts Forest side on Saturday afternoon.

Nuno's side have won just one of their last nine in all competitions, including three defeats from the last four. However, despite the current form, the City Ground remains something of a bogey venue for Liverpool who have never won away at Forest in the Premier League era.

Last season, Klopp's side were undone by former Red Taiwo Awoniyi who scored the only goal in a 1-0 defeat in this fixture.

The Nigerian could be called on again for Forest. However, Nuno has revealed he could also turn to another ex-Liverpool star in Origi as an option to test his former teammates.

'We need the best version of Divock'

“I still haven’t decided who is going to play but I can tell you Divock is improving,” Nuno said in his pre-match press conference.

"He has been in and out, some small issues which has been delaying his progress. But in the first half (against Manchester United) he was amazing and for us, he is a solution because he can play right, left side and in the centre. So we need the best version of Divock.”

Origi made 175 appearance for Liverpool between 2015 and 2022, scoring 41 goals in total, including — of course — some of the most important strikes in the Reds' modern history.

Since joining Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023 after a season at AC Milan, the 28-year-old Belgian has struggled for form and has just one goal in 14 outings in all competitions.

On the test of Liverpool this weekend, Nuno added: “We need to be clinical with the chances we have and control their game, especially the offensive movements they have,” he added.

“They are really dangerous, they have quality so it will require a lot of effort from us. But we have to keep this idea of playing and going forward no matter which opponent we have because this is what our team needs. We have talent so let’s reinforce the things we do well and defensively we have to be aware of the quality of the Liverpool players.”