With us approaching the busiest time of the season, here’s our Manchester United Vs Nottingham Forest preview, prediction, team news and confirmed lineups ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
Manchester United Vs Nottingham Forest Preview
Ruben Amorim suffered his first loss as Manchester United boss on Wednesday night as his side were beaten 2-0 at Arsenal on Wednesday.
The defeat was United’s first in seven across all competitions, with two set-piece goals earning victory for the Gunners.
United are 13th in the Premier League table, with five wins, four draws and five losses. And yet, in a tightly-packed mid-table battle, the Red Devils are still only four points below Brighton in fifth.
Saturday’s hosts have also won six of seven Premier League meetings with Nottingham Forest.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were beaten 3-0 at the Etihad over the other side of Manchester on Wednesday. They will be hoping to avoid two miserable trips up the M6 in one week.
Forest made a superb start to the season, winning five and drawing four of their opening ten games.
But recent defeats to City, Arsenal and Newcastle have slowed their momentum. They now sit seventh in the table, four points below the top four.
Having beaten United 2-1 at the City Ground in their last meeting, Forest are aiming for their first back-to-back league wins over Manchester United since the days of Brian Clough in 1992.
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An evening kick-off at the Theatre of Dreams is up next…#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 6, 2024
Manchester United Vs Nottingham Forest Team News
United suffered a major blow with the news that fullback Luke Shaw is set for another long spell on the sidelines. Fellow defender Victor Lindelof is also out with a groin issue.
Jonny Evan missed the Arsenal defeat and remains a doubt, but Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo are both available once more after serving their suspensions in midweek.
Leny Yoro is therefore in line for a first start, while Diallo, Rashford and Zirkzee all impressed against Everton and will be hoping to start on Saturday.
Forest are still missing Danilo (ankle) and Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring), with both out until the new year at least.
Former United winger Anthony Elanga is an option in attack alongside the in-form pair of Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Manchester United Vs Nottingham Forest Confirmed Lineups
Manchester United: Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Martinez; Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Jota; Wood
Manchester United Vs Nottingham Forest Prediction
Neither side fared well in midweek, so both will be hoping for a morale-boosting win. Forest have looked excellent at times so far this season, but have faltered in recent weeks.
With Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils looking strong at home, we think United should have enough to take all three points.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Nottingham Forest
