Nottingham Forest welcomes Manchester United to the City Ground for an exciting Premier League clash as both teams aim to build on their Boxing Day victories.
Nottingham Forest secured a 3-1 win over Newcastle United, while Manchester United came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2.
Match Preview
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest achieved a remarkable comeback win against Newcastle following a defeat to Bournemouth in his first game in charge.
Chris Wood’s hat-trick steered the Tricky Trees to a crucial victory, but they remain 17th in the table, striving to maintain their position above the relegation zone.
Forest has a daunting task against Manchester United, having lost their last 11 encounters against them over a 28-year period. Their last win against the Red Devils at home dates back to 1992, making it a challenging fixture historically.
Manchester United, after a four-game winless streak, showed resilience with a dramatic turnaround against Aston Villa.
Despite trailing by two goals, they managed a thrilling comeback, securing three points through goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund.
The Red Devils have a mixed away record this season, and they’ll aim to improve it as they face Nottingham Forest.
They haven’t lost their final league game in any of the last 11 calendar years and are looking to continue this streak.
Team News
Nottingham Forest is without Taiwo Awoniyi, Felipe, Serge Aurier due to injuries, and Ibrahim Sangare, suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.
Willy Boly returns from suspension, possibly replacing Moussa Niakhate or Ola Aina in defense.
Man United continues to miss several key players due to injuries, including Mason Mount, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, among others. Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, and Sofyan Amrabat are doubtful for the upcoming fixture.
Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest: (4-2-3-1)
Turner;
Williams, Boly, Murillo, Toffolo;
Mangala, Danilo;
Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi;
Wood
Manchester United: (4-2-3-1)
Onana;
Dalot, Varane, Evans, Reguilon;
Mainoo, McTominay;
Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford;
Hojlund
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United
Manchester United’s historical dominance over Nottingham Forest and their recent comeback win could boost their confidence.
However, Nottingham Forest can be strong at home, making it a closely contested match. Ultimately, United’s form and quality might edge them to secure a narrow victory in this encounter.