Nottingham Forest announced the re-signing of veteran goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey just hours before their crucial match against Liverpool at the City Ground. The move aimed to bolster their squad as they sought to extend their lead in the Premier League standings.
Hennessey, a former Wales international, initially joined Forest in 2022 but left when his contract expired last summer. Despite his departure, he remained at the club’s training base, and his return on a short-term contract until the end of the season was confirmed by the club.
Nuno Espirito Santo said, “Unfortunately Wayne had a serious injury at the end of last season which was a tough moment for everybody inside the training ground. He’s signed his contract and it’s a pleasure to have him around. His knowledge, his experience, the way he goes about his work, it’s really good to have him.”
Forest’s manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, expressed his delight at having Hennessey back in the squad, emphasizing the goalkeeper’s experience and positive influence on the team. The 37-year-old’s return was seen as a strategic move to strengthen the team’s depth and leadership as they navigated the challenges of the Premier League season.
In their previous encounter, Forest secured a notable victory over Liverpool, marking the only defeat for Arne Slot’s side in the league this season. Reflecting on that game, Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, acknowledged the challenge posed by Forest.
Arne Slot said, “I think they already showed in retrospect how good of a team they are. Leading up to that game I think they had two draws and one win. In general, I think when Liverpool loses a home game that is something we don’t expect. I think in that moment of time I also saw the stat that Virgil [van Dijk] played 100 games for Liverpool and only lost [twice at Anfield]. So, for us to lose then on that day was for me hard to take, as you probably experienced. Now looking back at it and seeing where they are in the league it’s not been as such a shock result as I thought it was back then. They had a very good game plan. [They] changed the wingers that normally played and brought them in at the end and they made a difference. Although I expect their wingers that have done so well to be in the starting XI tomorrow.”
Slot’s comments highlighted Forest’s tactical acumen and adaptability, which contributed to their success against Liverpool. As the teams prepared to face off once again, the anticipation was high, with both sides eager to assert their dominance in the league.
With Hennessey’s experience and leadership back in the fold, Nottingham Forest aimed to build on their previous successes and continue their strong performance in the 2024-2025 season.
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