Nottingham Forest hosts Tottenham at The City Ground in a clash of contrasting fortunes on Boxing Day – check out our preview and prediction for the match, as well as the latest team news and confirmed lineups.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview
Forest, riding high in fourth place, have been the season’s biggest surprise package, while Tottenham continue to struggle for consistency despite flashes of quality.
Under Nuno Espírito Santo, Forest have gone from relegation battlers to European contenders. With eight wins and four losses in their first 16 matches, they’ve solidified themselves as one of the Premier League’s in-form teams.
Their recent resurgence at home has been particularly impressive. After a six-game winless streak at The City Ground earlier in the season, Forest have won four of their last five home matches and are now eyeing a third consecutive victory.
Espírito Santo’s side will hope to capitalise on Tottenham’s inconsistent away form to continue their remarkable ascent.
Sprus, meanwhile, have struggled to maintain momentum this season and are languishing in 11th place.
Ange Postecoglou’s side delivered a statement 4-0 victory against reigning champions Manchester City but followed it with a three-game winless run.
Their recent 5-0 thrashing of Southampton showcased their attacking quality, but their inconsistency—particularly away from home—remains a concern.
Having lost three of their last five away matches, Spurs will need a strong performance to secure points against an in-form Forest side.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur Team News
Forest will have to cope without key midfielders Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo, who remain sidelined until January.
However, there is good news for Espírito Santo’s side, as Alex Moreno is expected to return after his recent absence, providing a boost to their defensive options on the left flank.
Tottenham’s injury woes continue, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario set to miss an extended period, while Richarlison and Ben Davies are also unavailable.
The statuses of Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Micky van de Ven remain uncertain, with no updates on their return dates as of yet.
In better news for Spurs, Rodrigo Bentancur is back in contention after completing his suspension, offering a much-needed midfield reinforcement.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur Confirmed Lineups
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Tottenham: Forster; Spence, Dragusin, Gray, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Johnson, Kulusevski, Son; Solanke
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur Prediction
Nottingham Forest’s recent home form and momentum give them the edge, but Tottenham’s attacking prowess makes this a potential high-scoring affair.
This could be a classic festive cracker.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Tottenham.
