“A brilliant test”- Cooper admits Forest have longed for Liverpool clash

Steve Cooper says Nottingham Forest are excited to face Liverpool

Liverpool will lock horns this Saturday in the Premier League with newly promoted team Nottingham Forest. The last time the two teams met in the league was way back in 1999, in a 2-2 draw.

More recently though, the clubs met in the FA Cup Quarter Final last season, with Diogo Jota’s 78th-minute goal proving to be the difference. Steve Cooper’s time in the Premier League has not been the most pleasing as the Notts are struggling to get their season going and are in 19th on the table.

Liverpool have a very good record against newly promoted sides and they would hope that they get the win to continue their winning streak of two games so far. The meeting between the sides at the City Ground promises to be a good atmosphere.

Forest had a successful league campaign last season in the Championship and finished fourth to Fulham, Bournemouth and Huddersfield. Beating the latter in the Play-off finals, the Notts earned their well-deserved promotion to the top flight.

Notts’ gaffer Steve Cooper acknowledged the big occasion and spoke about Liverpool travelling towards the East Midlands for a league fixture. Here is what he said via the Liverpool Echo

“They are one of the biggest threats in the league. Amazing club, great manager, great players. I don’t pay any attention to if there is ever a good or bad time to play them.”

“It’s a brilliant test. These are the games that the club has longed for, for so many years, we should remember that and if we can bear that in mind we will create a really good atmosphere, which is normal anyway, and that can help us on the day.”

Coming into this fixture, Liverpool have experienced successive 1-0 wins against Manchester City and West Ham United. Cooper’s side is coming off a loss to Wolves and a draw against Brighton and Hove Albion. However, you can only play what is in front of you.

The Nottingham side have played only one fixture against a “big-six” club so far and lost 6-0 to Manchester City with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick. Their only win this season came against West Ham United.

More Liverpool News

• Jurgen Klopp believes it was the correct decision to rule out Phil Foden’s goal
• Luis Figo talks about his potential transfer to Liverpool and how the club botched the chance to sign him
• Manchester City star Bernardo Silva slams referee Anthony Taylor for Phil Foden’s disallowed goal vs Liverpool

It promises to be a good fixture in a very historic stadium and a good atmosphere on top of it. Liverpool will hope to walk back into the tunnel victorious. With clashes against Ajax Amsterdam, Leeds United and Napoli still to come, Jurgen Klopp and co will do well to keep up their winning momentum.