Nottingham Forest and Manchester United will be looking for consecutive wins to end the year. Last time out, both teams overcame a deficit to win all three points. The Tricky Trees defeated Newcastle United 3-1 on the road. While the Red Devils defeated Aston Villa 3-2 at Old Trafford.
Preview (Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester United)
Nuno Espirito Santo led his new team to an incredible comeback victory against Newcastle on Boxing Day. After Alexander Isak’s early goal, Chris Wood scared his old team by scoring an incredible hat-trick. It helped the Tricky Trees snap a seven-game losing streak in the Premier League. Nevertheless, after Luton Town’s victory over Sheffield United, they are still two points above the relegation zone.
Although Santo has admitted that his Forest team is still “learning” under his guidance, they don’t have much time to celebrate their victory on Tuesday since they have to concentrate fast on a “tough one” against Man United, an opponent they haven’t had much luck against in a while. In fact, throughout the last 28 years, Forest has lost all 11 of their encounters with the Red Devils. It included all four of those encounters at the City Ground by a combined score of 17-1. The only Premier League victory Forest has ever had over Man United was at Old Trafford in December 1994 (2-1). Their last success at home against the Red Devils was in March 1992 (1-0).
Man United’s holiday woes appeared set to continue after they went four games without a goal in all categories. Aston Villa took the lead in the first twenty-six minutes of Tuesday’s encounter at Old Trafford, scoring twice. Rasmus Hojlund scored his first Premier League goal on the fifteenth attempt. Alejandro Garnacho’s brace in the second half helped the Red Devils accomplish a remarkable comeback. In Man United’s first game since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 25% share in the team, Erik ten Hag’s team picked up three much-needed points. As a result, they moved up to sixth place in the Premier League table, six points behind rivals Manchester City.
Team News
The injured trio of Taiwo Awoniyi (groin), Felipe (hamstring), and Serge Aurier (calf) are continuing to cause problems for Nottingham Forest, and Ibrahim Sangare will be suspended for a run of yellow cards on Saturday. Nevertheless, the center defender Billy Boly is eligible to return from his one-match suspension. He might start instead of Moussa Niakhate or Ola Aina in the back four. In Sangare’s absence, Orel Mangala, Ryan Yates, and Nicolas Dominguez will all compete for a starting position in midfield, while Anthony Elanga, a former Manchester United winger who contributed two assists the previous game, is expected to start alongside Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Callum Hudson-Odoi in the attack.
Regarding Man United, Anthony Martial (sickness), Luke Shaw, and Sofyan Amrabat (both unspecified) are questionable, while Casemiro (thigh), Lisandro Martinez (foot), Mason Mount (calf), Harry Maguire (groin), Tyrell Malacia, Mad Diallo (both knee), and Victor Lindelof (unspecified) are all still out. Scott McTominay might take the place of either Christian Eriksen or Debbie Mainoo in center midfield, while Sergio Reguilon will be pushing to return at left-back at the expense of either Diogo Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Ten Hag is not expected to make many changes to his starting eleven.
While Bruno Fernandes plays in behind Hojlund up front, Garnacho and Marcus Rashford are expected to hold their spots on the sides. Both Antonio and Facundo Pellistri will attempt to push their way back into the starting lineup.
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United
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