Head coach Steve Cooper made a bold call when it came to naming his Nottingham Forest team to face Liverpool.
And he has another big decision to make as the Reds are quickly back in action. They host Brighton and Hove Albion at the City Ground on Wednesday night in what has the makings of being a crucial clash.
Forest desperately need to stop an 11-match winless run which has seen them drop to 19th in the Premier League table with six games to go. Nevertheless, they are just one point below 17th-placed Leicester City and could take a lot of positives from their 3-2 defeat at Anfield.
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Cooper left top scorer Brennan Johnson out of the starting XI at the weekend. It was a brave move, but his game plan worked to good effect and almost yielded a result - with Johnson going close to netting an equaliser when he came off the bench.
Leaving out an attacking player on Merseyside allowed the Reds boss to add an extra body in the centre of the pitch, after Remo Freuler and Danilo had been overrun in midfield in the previous game against Manchester United. And sticking with the system of using wing-backs certainly suits Neco Williams, who got on the scoresheet against his old club.
But at home, in a game his team could really do with taking three points from, it would be no surprise if Cooper brings Johnson back into the side. How to fit him in presents something of a dilemma, though. Deciding who would miss out and how the hosts should set up is not easy.
Forest could revert to four at the back, but Williams, in particular, has benefitted from the change in role. And after having such a good game on Merseyside, he will want to build on that.
There is the possibility of going with two in midfield again, perhaps with Morgan Gibbs-White dropping back to help out at times. Cooper doesn’t have too many options available if he wants to mix things up in the centre. Cheikhou Kouyate, Ryan Yates, Jack Colback and Gustavo Scarpa remain sidelined, while Jonjo Shelvey was not in the squad on Saturday.
The Reds have also been hit by another injury at the back, with Scott McKenna forced off at Anfield. Joe Worrall stepped in to take his place, having recovered from illness, and would keep his spot if Cooper opts for the same shape in midweek.
Predicted Forest XI: Navas; Williams, Worrall, Felipe, Niakhate, Lodi; Freuler, Danilo; Gibbs-White; Johnson, Awoniyi.
How should Forest line up against Brighton? Have your say in the comments below
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