Ahead of Sunday’s clash at the City Ground, we have the Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle preview, prediction, latest teams news and confirmed lineups.
Nottingham Forest Vs Newcastle Preview
Nottingham Forest
Currently perched in third position, Nottingham Forest will be looking to continue their excellent start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have 19 points on the board after their opening ten fixtures. Most notably, they are the only side to beat Liverpool in all competitions this season.
Going into the weekend’s fixtures, Forest are higher than the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Which is no easy feat considering Christmas is on the horizon.
Last time out, the Tricky Trees cruised past a lacklustre West Ham United side 3-0 on home soil. Chris Wood opened the scoring which means he now has eight goals for the season.
Five of those efforts have come in his last four top-flight appearances. Wood’s exploits have helped manufacture an impressive ten points from those fixtures.
Amazingly, Forest have only gotten the better of Newcastle just once in the Premier League era. That solitary 3-1 victory came on Boxing Day 2023. The hat-trick hero? Wood, of course.
On Friday, Wood was named as October’s Player of the Month with Santo picking up the Manager’s award. These individual prizes show just how far Forest have come this year.
Back on Trentside this Sunday. 🏡 pic.twitter.com/tJ4MlGblae
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) November 8, 2024
Newcastle
Boss Eddie Howe celebrates three years at the helm of Newcastle United and he reminded everyone just what he is all about as he guided the Magpies to an excellent 1-0 win against Arsenal on GW10.
After enduring a rather topsy-turvy start to the season, a superb Alexander Isak header against the Gunners revitalised the Geordies chances of pushing for a top six berth.
Left-back Lewis Hall was in fine form against Mikel Arteta’s side last week. Tasked with shackling Bukayo Saka, the 20-year-old did so with considerable ease.
His brilliant form this season saw Hall rewarded with a first ever senior England call-up. The former Chelsea star will be eager to impress once again on Sunday.
The same can be said about right-back Tino Livramento. He was part of Lee Carsley’s UEFA Nations League squad that played against Ireland and Finland in September but he didn’t feature in either game.
He handled the threat of Gabriel Martinelli like a seasoned pro last time out and the 21-year-old will be vital at the City Ground on Sunday.
The home of Nottingham Forest has actually proved a lucky omen during the Premier League era. Howe’s side are yet to lose in their six appearances and ran out 3-2 winners last season.
However, the Northerners have endured some rather poor form on the road this season which makes the GW11 battle a very intriguing clash.
Three years of Eddie Howe! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/rzzPBNVfw5
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 8, 2024
Nottingham Forest Vs Newcastle Team News
As far as injuries go, Nottingham Forest have no fresh concerns going into Sunday’s clash. Both Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare are still ruled out.
James Ward-Prowse is available for selection after being ruled out against his parent club last weekend. However, Santo is has opted to start him on the bench.
That means the duo of Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez will start in defensive roles in the middle of the park. Chris Wood will lead the attack with the likes of Morgan Giggs-White and Anthony Elanga in supporting roles.
For Newcastle, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Jamaal Lacelles and Callum Wilson are definitely ruled out through injury. However, Jacob Murphy is set to make his return from the bench.
Joe Willock is fit enough to start after picking up a minor knock against Arsenal last weekend.
Up front, Alexander Isak will look to gun down Forest once again. The Swedish star has scored three times in just two outings against the Tricky Trees.
Nottingham Forest Vs Newcastle Confirmed Lineups
Nottingham Forest (4-3-2-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Dominguez, Yates; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Gordon, Isak, Joelinton
Nottingham Forest Vs Newcastle Prediction
Although Nottingham Forest have been in terrific form of late – and Newcastle are poor on the road – the general feeling is that both teams will settle for a point on Sunday.
Historically, the Magpies have a great record at the City Ground and will want to build on their win over title-chasing Arsenal.
Forest have only lost once all season and have picked up three wins on the bounce. However, we are predicting a low-scoring stalemate as both sides seek to cancel each other out.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Newcastle
