Liverpool

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest supporters will see a fourth new face in the City Ground dugout this season when they welcome Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday (14:00 GMT).

After making his Forest managerial bow in the Europa League on Thursday at Fenerbahce - an impressive 3-0 win - Vitor Pereira will take charge of his first league fixture with the club this weekend. The nature of Forest's managerial changes – not to mention their perilous league position – means he will need to hit the ground running.

They welcome a Liverpool side who have shown some positive signs recently after back-to-back wins. A top-five finish, and what should be Champions League football next season, remains their Premier League aim after a limp title defence.

Fourth time lucky for Forest?

Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Pereira will be quiz-question answers for years to come. For the first time in the Premier League, a team will have had four permanent managers in a single season; there are still 12 games of the top-flight campaign to go too.

Pereira's aggressive, attacking brand of football represents another tactical U-turn for Forest and it will be intriguing to see how quickly he can get his ideas across, especially a three-man defence set-up that will be unfamiliar for the current squad.

When he took charge at Wolves last season it did not take long, winning 10 of his first 22 games. But this year the wheels fell off, with Wolves only taking two points from 10 games before Pereira was sacked.

If he were to secure a huge win, it would snap a worrying trend from a Forest perspective. The last manager to win his first Premier League game in charge was Dave Bassett in 1997; all six since have lost their openers in the competition.

Dom delivering for Liverpool

Liverpool have next to no hope of retaining their Premier League title, but with the FA Cup and Champions League still up for grabs, they seem to be coming to the boil at the perfect time.

Last time out in the Premier League, they won at Sunderland – becoming the first team to triumph at the Stadium of Light this season – and then they dispatched Brighton in the FA Cup last weekend.

There is no doubt that their standout player this season has been Dominik Szoboszlai, who was on the scoresheet again against the Seagulls. He now has five goals and two assists in his last eight games in all competitions.

Should he line up in midfield – the Hungarian has been deployed at right-back on a number of occasions this season – his battle with Elliot Anderson will be vital in determining the outcome of the contest.

Liverpool do not have many happy recent memories against their Nottingham opponents, though. Forest have not lost any of the last three meetings between the two teams – the most recent a 3-0 win at Anfield – and the Reds have won just one of their last 15 visits to the City Ground.

Josh Sexton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Having a local heart of the team is important.

In a world where football clubs have become multi-billion-pound enterprises, there needs to be something that anchors these organisations to their area, besides the location of their stadium.

Think of previous generations of your favourite team and who you consider to be its biggest and best legends, and most Premier League clubs will side with the lads from the local area.

Think too of the next generation, who want to know they have a chance of playing for the side they support one day, and can see somebody who kicked a football around the same streets that they do pulling on that shirt at the highest level.

It's why some fans have shuddered recently at the idea of comparisons between Dominik Szoboszlai and Steven Gerrard.

Applying logic alone, they are both all-action, versatile midfielders, with a penchant for attacking and supreme technique combined with running power and work rate.

Applying sentiment, though, paints the lad supposedly dreaming of playing for Real Madrid one day in a totally different light than the legend who spent his best years at his boyhood club.

That's not to do down Szoboszlai, who is increasingly becoming every bit a leader and superstar with every sweeping run and screamer at Anfield, more to signify how important figures like Gerrard are to their local areas.

Which brings us to Curtis Jones, a player who was surprisingly linked away from Liverpool during a strange January transfer window for the club.

Applying logic alone, the 25-year-old needs game time and has shown such progression that surely the next step for his career is to go somewhere he can display that as a starter on a more regular basis than under Arne Slot.

Applying sentiment, though, means the lad born on an estate within Liverpool's city centre, who loves the club dearly and has spoken so candidly time and again about how much the down moments of this season have hurt him personally, does deserve to be viewed in a different light.

Because Jones is not only of the utmost importance to local lads aspiring to play for the Reds one day, he's also important to this current side, as a starting-level midfielder who provides something a little different to what any of his teammates can bring as a rotational player.

Possessing versatility, supreme technique, and a calm head when the moment demands is something that a heavily-injured, maligned, and under-pressure Liverpool side cannot afford to sniff at.

They also cannot simply throw money at replacing such a skillset. Because the truth is that Jones can not only save Liverpool some pennies, he's priceless.

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We asked for your views on whether Dominik Szoboszlai would make a good Liverpool captain one day.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: Yes, Dom probably is the logical choice as the next Reds captain, but not just yet. Virgil is still the man.

Brian: Definitely. He would lead by example, best player by far this season. He's got experience as well as he captains his country.

Rob: 100%! He has plenty of experience being the captain of Hungary. He has been our best player by a mile so far and he is very comfortable on and off the ball. We have to be prepared for Van Dijk to pass on the baton and find a suitable skipper to take over when needed. Especially if Robertson were to leave then I don't see any current competitors in the squad that are more fit for the role than Szoboszlai.

David: He should already be captain.

Jack: Szoboszlai is a fantastic leader. And he's still fairly young, so to imagine what he'll be like in a few years time is something to be excited about. He's already captain of his national team and he has been doing a fantastic job. The only other player I'd love to see as the captain is Curtis Jones as he's got that Scouse mentality that we need in the team.

Dax: "The guy is a colossus!" That's what we said about Virgil van Dijk when he joined Liverpool. Szoboszlai is no different. He is literally the driving force behind Liverpool being where they are. Elements of Steven Gerard, Billy Liddell and Steve Nicol are in him. He gets everywhere, is powerful on the ball and can score from anywhere. He can lead by example making him a future Liverpool captain for many years.

Seb: I think that he will be our next captain, and maybe our vice captain for next season after his performance this year. If he does become captain, then he will be different to Van Dijk and not be as vocal but lead more by example. He has shown that he can help the team through hard times and this is what good captains do. In the near future I definitely see him being the next captain.

Benjamin: Next season, the club should make Dominik vice captain so when the time comes he will be ready to step up then take the captaincy from Van Dijk.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport vlogger Chloe Bloxam says Dominik Szoboszlai is captain material in her video below.

Do you agree? Will he one day wear the armband?

Get in touch with your views here

Chloe Bloxam
Fan contributor

Dominik Szoboszlai has been absolutely brilliant for Liverpool this season, he's been the heart and soul of this Liverpool side.

Everything good from a Liverpool perspective feels like it's got his fingerprints all over it. He's become our talisman, he's become our leader on the pitch and he sets the standards week in, week out of what is expected from the lads in red.

Szoboszlai has become the reason why Liverpool have a little bit of hope this season. He really has become a leader. I knew he had these leadership skills because he's a Hungary captain.

However, doing it for Liverpool on the bigger stage is a different thing and I truly believe that he could become one of Liverpool's captains in the future and it is so important that the club tie down his future and make sure it's at Anfield because he's the type of player that we just cannot lose. His best years are yet to come and if he can keep this consistency and he can grow on what he is, he will become a superstar.

He will become one of the world's best in his position and it really is important that Liverpool tie him down because there are obvious rumours right now around the likes of Real Madrid being interested.

Szoboszlai needs to make sure that he stays at Anfield. Hopefully he does because I truly believe he can become the next Liverpool captain.

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Liverpool fan Jim Boardman from Anfield Index says the Reds seem less vulnerable from set pieces after a dire start to the season from dead balls.

Liverpool have now scored five goals from set pieces in their last four Premier League games, an improvement from their problems at dead-ball situations at the beginning of the season, which saw their former set-piece coach Aaron Briggs leave the club in December.

"Whatever's changed, it's changed in the right way, and we don't seem to be as vulnerable at set-pieces as we were before", Boardman told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"We were bad in both ways, couldn't score from them, couldn't defend them but at last that seems to be turning around.

"The way the game is now, set pieces do seem like the key.

"One thing that was interesting after the change in coach was that Dominik Szoboszlai said he sat with the analyst, or that he'd done his homework on positioning and things, and that had helped him get more success with free-kicks."

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Liverpool match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

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Aadam Patel
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Those who see Dominik Szoboszlai on a daily basis at Liverpool describe him as highly competitive with a clear desire to excel.

Szoboszlai is regularly among the first to arrive at training and it's no surprise he's high up in terms of the club's running and physical stats. No Liverpool player has covered more distance this season.

In a recent video on Liverpool's channels, Milos Kerkez - who plays with him for club and country - said Szoboszlai would be a 400m runner if he wasn't a footballer.

"He could jog from Liverpool to Hungary and not get tired," joked left-back Kerkez.

Szoboszlai is a man determined in his own right, but Mohamed Salah's high standards are understood to have a big influence on him. Away from football, the pair enjoy playing backgammon and often hang out together at each other's houses.

When he was described as "disrespectful" last month by Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane for attempting a backheel in his own box that led to a mistake and goal for the League One side, Szoboszlai spoke up to defend himself.

Privately, manager Arne Slot had a word too.

Szoboszlai's prime years are ahead of him. He was handed the national team captaincy at 22 and Liverpool view him as a future skipper, just like Steven Gerrard.

With vice-captain Andy Robertson expected to depart this summer and Virgil van Dijk's deal expiring in 2027, the possibility is certainly there.

Read more on Szobozslai's growth here

Newcastle's England winger Anthony Gordon, 24, says he will not let transfer speculation affect him after being linked with Liverpool and Arsenal. (Sun), external

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Alexander Isak could be back in contention for selection at Liverpool by the end of March, says manager Arne Slot.

Isak has been ruled out since December with a leg fracture and having had ankle surgery.

Liverpool's record signing - in a deal for £125m during the summer - has managed just 16 appearances for the Reds.

"Alex has been on the pitch, not with his football boots but with his running shoes for the first time this week," Slot said on Thursday.

"The next step is doing work with the ball, which every player likes most, then the next step is to come into the group - and then it takes a while before you're ready to play.

"It will be some time around end of March or start of April when he is hopefully back with the group. That is not to say you are ready to play, let alone start a game.

"But it's nice that rehab goes well; that's a compliment to him and our medical staff.

"We all know the moment you go on the pitch it doesn't take three months, but these final stages of rehab can also make it change."

Slot explained Jeremie Frimpong - recently sidelined with a hamstring issue - could return for next weekend's visit of West Ham to Anfield.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Slot confirmed Joe Gomez is available and fit to start. Jeremie Frimpong "will not be involved this weekend" but Slot said "we hope he will be involved next week if things go as planned".

• Wataru Endo will be out "for a long time" with the injury he sustained against Sunderland but there is not yet a timescale, while Alexander Isak "has been on the pitch not with his football shoes but with his running shoes for the first time this week so it will still be a while".

• More on Isak, who continues to recover from a broken leg: "You do know you're in your final stages of rehab. Next step is, of course, doing work with the ball and then going into the group, but it takes a while before you're ready to play. It's nice that rehab has gone well- compliments to him and our medical staff. Let's not put a timescale on it but it's clear he will be available if things go as planned this season."

• Asked whether the Reds needed free midweek, Slot said: "Not needed it, no. Maybe if you ask me again in a month it's different. It was nice to have days off, but I didn't really need it. Last season, I maybe needed it more. I'm enjoying the work I do over here - I enjoy working with the players and the staff."

• On Dominik Szoboszlai's position: "He played a good game in midfield [against Brighton in the FA Cup]. The week before he played a very good game at right-back, and the week before a good game in another position. A player with his quality can play in multiple positions and I have to find the best position for him and for the team."

• On facing Vitor Pereira's Forest after losing at 3-0 at home earlier in the season when they were manager by Sean Dyche: "Back then, it was Dyche's third or fourth game. That makes it a little bit more difficult. We only have tonight [Forest's Europa League match at Fenerbahce] to see if this new manager changes personnel. The good thing is they have that game, and the manager was in the Premier League last season."

• On a recent return to goalscoring form: "We always try to press, bring the ball out from the back, and we want to entertain. We don't always achieve that. Sometimes it's about us and sometimes it's the teams facing us don't want an entertaining game. For a lot of the season, when we've lost or drawn, we have not deserved it. Things went a bit more back to normal recently and you can see that in performances and results."

Hit play above to hear more from Slot or listen on BBC Sounds here

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Liverpool.com journalist Matt Addison says qualifying for the Champions League is "the minimum requirement" for the Reds this season.

He told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Obviously winning a trophy is not be sniffed at, you want to do that as often as you can but Liverpool a couple of seasons ago had a season in the Europa League and it just isn't the same.

"For me, the minimum requirement is Champions League football. Champions League and a trophy is what would be a successful season."

Click play above to hear the full chat or listen on BBC Sounds

Liverpool have no plans to sell Dominik Szoboszlai despite speculation linking the Hungary midfielder with Real Madrid, with talks progressing over a new contract for the 25-year-old. (Teamtalk), external

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We asked for your views on how important it is for Liverpool to renew Ibrahima Konate's contract, which is due to expire this summer.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: I get the feeling Konate is just running his contract down, as Trent Alexander-Arnolddid. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that - this is business and a short career. The likes of Real Madrid would be delighted to get him on a free, with no risk, and move him on for a healthy profit. Hope he stays though.

Jason: Why would we expect him to renew a contract that has just a few months left? When has this ever happened so late with a high-profile, valuable player in his 20s? He's not renewing! Did no-one learn from Trent?! If he was renewing it would have been done long ago.

Rich: I really hope he stays but I don't expect him to simply because he thinks he is better than he is, and therefore thinks he's worth more money than he is. He's a really decent player but his lack of consistency, and the fact you always feel he has a massive error in him, means he's not world class, in my opinion. Far from it.

Jack: Konate has been fantastic for many years. He's form a formidable partnership with Van Dijk and he is a defender who could still do many great things at the club. He could also be somebody who helps young defenders come up through the academy and could be an inspiration to many - like Virgil van Dijk has been. We need to tie him down as many of the other defensive options we're looking at are joining other clubs.

Callum: If you asked in October, I would have said try to get some money for him. But now he has really improved his game and we are back looking really solid defensively. Also, we are lacking decent centre-back options. I hope we keep him if he keeps performing like this.

Rachel: 100% renew his contract. His return has sparked the revival of a squad struggling in the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp was the catalyst for a tight team bond and Konate's return has led to a resurgence in that dressing room family. There are rumours of divisions with Arne Slot, but maybe the strength of this unit can weather those problems. Konate is becoming a leader across the group and we will definitely need his French influence to support Hugo Ekitike's form and the arrival of Jeremy Jacquet in the summer.

Fraser: When he's on form, Konate is one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Since coming back, he's been really good and looks more like the old Konate. I think most of us were too harsh on him as we had no idea what was going on in his private life and that his father was seriously ill. I would definitely try to renew his contract - it would certainly save us money in the summer when we need to fill other gaps in the squad. He's too good a centre-back to let go so easily.

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Ibou Konate has been exceptional recently and deserves plaudits for this.

Since he returned from taking time off after the death of his father, Liverpool have kept two clean sheets in four games, with Konate not putting a foot wrong.

He was poor at the start of the campaign but he seems to have turned a real corner, which will be crucial in Liverpool's pursuit of a top-five finish in the Premier League and glory in either the Champions League or the FA Cup.

Of course, we cannot know how the situation in the lead-up to his father's death may have affected Konate's form, but it's great to see him back to his best.

The Frenchman still hasn't signed a new contract, however.

Surely Liverpool would be wise to tie him down, given the very high cost of buying a replacement of his calibre.

Jeremy Jacquet is arriving in the summer on a pre-agreed deal, but he's only 20, uncapped and surely not ready to be a guaranteed starter every week.

Using Jacquet as a rotation option at first so he can get used to the league and renewing Konate's deal would be more sensible.

What do you think? How important is it Liverpool secure Konate on a new contract?

Get in touch with your views here

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Manchester Unitedare considering a move to sign midfielder Alexis Mac Allister from Liverpool, with the 27-year-old potentially set to leave Anfield this summer. (Star), external

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The draw for the FA Cup fifth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties in the order they were drawn.

• Fulham v Southampton

• Port Vale or Bristol City v Sunderland

• Newcastle United v Manchester City

• Leeds United v Norwich City

• Mansfield Town v Arsenal

• Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool

• Wrexham v Chelsea

• West Ham v Macclesfield or Brentford

The matches will be played over the weekend of 7 March.

Watch all the highlights and best video from this season's FA Cup

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup fourth round game between Liverpool and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Stuart: A great performance from the two Hungarians. The best game Kerkez has had in a Red shirt. Both him and Szoboszlai were very energetic. Jones performed with versatility. The combined passing and finish for the second goal was incredible. A little bit of the old Salah returned and he deserved the penalty that he rifled home. Finally some of the youngsters could get on the pitch. The only disappointment was Rio's wonderfully struck, disallowed goal!?

Rae: Everything right, and wrong, with Liverpool this season can be seen in this match. Some great goals, individual brilliance, Salah, Szoboszlai. And also some suspect defending, inconsistency. Nonetheless a great win and hopefully more to come.

John: So much has improved recently. Defending has Improved immensely, the midfield and forward play has been more dynamic. Salah has settled down after the African Cup of Nations, so onwards and upwards.

Struan: Important win against Brighton. Kerkez is at last becoming the player we thought we bought. Salah is beginning to return to form. Curtis showed he deserves more game time with his goal and all around performance. Szoboszlai was outstanding again with some superb long passes and a wonderful goal. And another clean sheet, which until recently seemed impossible for Liverpool. Lots of positives. Important we take the FA Cup seriously and give it our best shot.

Brighton fans

Keven: It felt like Hurzeler failed to understand the importance and passion of the FA Cup in this country and to the fans. You are playing one of the top sides, yet you start with no forward pace, no wingers to spread the game, leaving Mitoma, Minteh and Welbeck freezing on the bench, hoping to do a hit-and-run at the death. Kadioglu was once again the best player on the pitch for us, but how long will he continue to give 110% when others around him lack passion and fire in their bellies? I think the club now has to make some hard decisions however painful that may be.

Mark: Please Tony Bloom, end the agony of Hurzeler-ball, I just can't stand any more!

Barry: Brighton once again began brightly, moved the ball well and created opportunities - but the familiar problem remains - we don't take chances and Liverpool did. For a side that looked destined for the top eight not so long ago, the slide is worrying. Confidence appears fragile and the pattern is becoming predictable. Questions will inevitably be asked of Fabian Hurzeler. Chairman Tony Bloom now faces a significant decision about the direction of the club.

Brian: Confidence is installed through the manager. Unfortunately, this isn't happening and most players have lost belief in themselves. Against Liverpool, why start with such an inexperienced front line? Again selection is also a major concern.

Image source, Getty Images

The 2025-26 FA Cup fifth-round draw will take place on Monday, 16 February at about 18:35 GMT.

It will be done before the fourth-round tie between Macclesfield Town - the lowest-ranked team left in the competition - and Brentford, with former England internationals Joe Cole and Karen Carney conducting the draw on TNT Sports.

Supporters can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app.

All matches will be played around the weekend commencing Saturday, 7 March.

Unlike in previous years, there are no replays if matches end as a draw. All ties will go to extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout.

What are the ball numbers?

1. Liverpool

2. Fulham

3. Sunderland

4. Southampton

5. Wrexham

6. Arsenal

7. Chelsea

8. West Ham United

9. Mansfield Town

10. Norwich City

11. Port Vale or Bristol City

12. Wolverhampton Wanderers

13. Newcastle United

14. Manchester City

15. Macclesfield or Brentford

16. Leeds United