Manchester United v Nottingham Forest: Preview, Team News and Predictions
Manchester United and Nottingham Forest are set to rub shoulders against each other when the Premier League resumes after six long weeks, at Old Trafford on December 27.
The Red Devils have set their sights on the Champions League after an unsuccessful attempt last season where they finished 13 points behind fourth place. They headed to the World Cup break with a crucial 2-1 win over Fulham, and resumed normal services, in the Carabao Cup against Burnley, clinching a 2-0 victory.
Erik Ten Hag has well and truly launched his methods and patterns of operation at Manchester United. The team looks more settled, the manager appears to have found some of his best starting players, and history favours the hosts.
Manchester United have won each of their last six encounters against Nottingham Forest across all competitions.
As for Forest, they’ve conceded more goals in the Premier League against Manchester United than any other opponent.
Steve Cooper’s troops recently bagged a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, courtesy of a 54th minute strike from £42.5 million man Morgan Gibbs-White.
Currently placed in the danger zone of the PL ladder, the Tricky Trees will face the sizable task of improving what is the worst away record for any team in the division this season.
Team News
Manchester United
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are going to miss out as they step up their recovery after their exploits in the World Cup final.
Diogo Dalot, arguably United’s player of the season so far, remains doubtful after having sustained an injury in the quarter-final against Morocco. This means Aaron Wan-Bissaka, touted to move away, will play his second league game of the term.
Jadon Sancho is most likely to miss out as well.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest’s squad talent pool is diverse and dense, as is their injury list, with players from almost every position currently on the mend.
The index includes Moussa Niakhate, Omar Richards, Chiekhou Kouyate and Morgan Gibbs-White, although the latter is subject to a late fitness test.
Dean Henderson is ineligible to feature against his parent club, while Jesse Lingard, who scored 20 PL goals in Manchester United colours, is set to make an emotional return to the Theatre of Dreams.
Predicted XI
Manchester United probable line-up (4-2-3-1):
David de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Nottingham Forest probable line-up (4-3-3):
Hennessey; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; Yates, Mangala, Colback; Johnson, Awoniyi, Lingard
Match Prediction
Take nothing away from Forest, who are very brave in transition and are known for the counter-attacking plots they begin with. Manchester United are likely to concede given that they’ll be without their first-choice back four, but that shouldn’t stop them from blowing the visitors away.
Predicted score: Manchester United 3-1 Nottingham Forest
-Roy Arkarshak
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: Steve Collis. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.