Nottingham Forest can make Jamie Carragher eat his words for a second time after Liverpool triumph
It has been a fine start to the Premier League season for Nottingham Forest. They are seventh in the table, unbeaten and have eight points from their first four games.
Performances as well as results have provided cause for optimism. Saturday’s historic 1-0 win at Anfield was a perfect case in point.
The Reds triumphed away to Liverpool for the first time since 1969 thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s peach of a goal and a superb defensive effort. Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo had devised a brilliant masterplan and it was executed to perfection by his players.
Progress was the watchword at the City Ground ahead of this term. After successive relegation battles since their return to the top flight, Forest’s aim is to be well clear of danger come May this time around.
The early signs are certainly positive. The club recruited well in the summer window, Nuno has clearly got his ideas across on the training ground and plenty of promise is being shown on the pitch.
If anything, the Reds have the potential to get even better. There is still room for improvement.
They are already proving a few doubters wrong, though. Some were predicting another season of struggle for Forest. At the risk of jinxing things, surely the evidence so far suggests they will be pushing higher up the table.
After their opening 1-1 draw with Bournemouth last month, Jamie Carragher had predicted the Reds to go down. He told Sky Sports (via Nottingham Forest News): “I think Nottingham Forest have been close every season. And I think eventually the trapdoor opens.”
Before a ball had been kicked, pundit Richard Keys had also tipped Nuno’s charges for another campaign battling to beat the drop. He said in his blog: “Forest will be at the wrong end again, but should also have enough to stay up. As ever - their home form will be critical.”
He perhaps wasn’t wrong about the Reds looking to be strong at the City Ground. However, they have already made inroads into putting their away curse behind them as Saturday’s victory on Merseyside made it four consecutive Premier League wins on the road - the first time Forest have managed that feat since 1995.
Former Reds defender Michael Dawson told Sky Sports before the campaign started: “If you look at Nottingham Forest’s team, this is their third season back in the Premier League and both seasons so far, they’ve been fighting relegation. I look at the teams this year and there could be nothing between finishing 10th and 18th – it’s fine margins and it’s all about beating the teams around you. That’s what cements your place in the Premier League.
“I think Nottingham Forest will be safe this year with the team they have. I think Forest will stay up, but I hope it’s going to be more comfortable than it was last year!”
Of course, predicting how any season is going to pan out is full of potential pitfalls. Likewise, predicting specific results.
Carragher has already been left red-faced where Forest are concerned after plumping for a 2-0 home win when giving his thoughts prior to Saturday’s game. He had even suggested Arne Slot could rest some of his players. “Two-nil, probably rest a couple for Milan in midweek," he had told the Stick to Football podcast. "They’re in control, it’s a bit more slower and if they can get it to two-nil after an hour (they can rest players)."
READ MORE: Arne Slot sent 'rattled' message as Liverpool boss still ranting about Nottingham Forest defeat
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest and City Ground redevelopment as fresh update emerges
In response, former Forest man Roy Keane had quipped: “Trent (Alexander-Arnold) can get a hat-trick if he’s high up the pitch. I’ll go 3-1.” Not quite, Roy - although he was right about the visitors getting on the scoresheet.
So what is possible for the Reds this season? It is a cliche but Nuno and his players have made sure they are just taking it one step at a time.
“It's so early on in the season but there are good signs,” midfielder Ryan Yates said after Saturday. “We don't expect to win these sorts of games all the time, but we want to grow as a club so we do want to win games like this. I genuinely believe the club is growing on and off the pitch. It's something we shouldn't expect all the time, at the moment, but it shouldn't be a major shock that we've won. Let's not get ahead of ourselves because we know how things change in the Prem - it's ruthless.”
Defender Nikola Milenkovic has said: “I think we have big potential. We need to keep going every day and we need to put this on the pitch to show everyone we are a strong team.”
Data experts Opta currently predict Nuno’s side will finish 14th in the table and say they have a 5.51 percent chance of being relegated. Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town are the clubs they tip to go down, with Manchester City backed to retain their title.
The next three games before the October international break should provide a good test of where Forest are at. This Sunday sees them make the trip to the south coast to face a Brighton and Hove Albion (2pm kick-off) side sitting level on points with them in the table. They then host Fulham a week on Saturday before heading out on the road again to take on Chelsea.
Maintaining their positive run of results on the road before the next hiatus would be a huge step for the Reds. The bigger challenge is to keep up the overall positivity between now and May - and leave Carragher to eat his words.