Nuno Espirito Santo was quick to play down Nottingham Forest's chances of winning the Premier League title ahead of hosting leaders Liverpool on Tuesday. 

Forest find themselves third in the table heading into the encounter at the City Ground, level on points with Arsenal and six behind Arne Slot's side. 

They have won each of their last six Premier League games, while a win over Liverpool will see them equal their longest ever league winning run of seven, set four times previously (February 1893, December 1906, October 1921, and September 1979).

Forest remain the only team to beat Liverpool in the top-flight this season, having inflicted Slot's first defeat in charge of the Reds in a 1-0 victory back in September, earning them their first Premier League away win at Anfield since February 1969. 

Liverpool manager Slot said in his pre-match press conference that Forest were genuine title contenders this campaign, but Nuno remained focused on Tuesday's game rather than the outside noise. 

"If we start thinking about ifs... it's if, if, if, if. That's why we always try to approach how we are going to prepare ourselves, how we are going to play the game. At the end of the game there will be no ifs," Nuno said. 

"We try as much as possible to ignore what is around. We never change, it is the way we see things, it's the way we see the competition, it's the way we see life. Day-by-day, focus on our tasks. Tomorrow is another tough one.

"When we do things well, we should be pleased, but too many compliments can distract us, so we don't want to pay too much attention.

"We are here to compete against all of the teams and I think we are doing well, but nothing changes in our approach, which stays the same.

"We know what we can do and how we want to do things. We know each other, our strengths and weaknesses. So let's play the game."

Nuno also revealed he did not have a special plan for Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah, who has scored two goals in four appearances against Forest in the top-flight. 

Salah has been in fine form for Slot's side this season, registering a division-high 31 goal involvements (18 goals, 13 assists) in the 19 matches he has played so far. 

16 of the Egyptian’s 18 Premier League goals this term have come in the second half of games. In the competition’s history, only Salah himself has scored more for Liverpool after half-time in a single campaign (18 in 2017-18).

Nuno, however, highlighted the quality of Liverpool's squad all over the pitch, also acknowledging their displays in the Champions League, as well as the Premier League. 

"Salah, Diaz, Gakpo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Konate, Trent... quality all over the place. A fantastic team," Nuno added.

"They have shown, not only in the Premier League but in Europe, how good they are.

"It is about us realising this and facing the game with the true respect necessary to play against Liverpool."