Manchester United will look to bounce back from the Tottenham defeat when they host Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday. The visitors, meanwhile, hope to end their 29-year winless streak against the Red Devils and earn their first away victory in the top level since January.
Preview (Manchester United vs. Nottingham)
On the first weekend of the new season, Man United managed to defeat a hard-working Wolverhampton Wanderers team with a narrow 1-0 victory. However, their luck ran out last Sunday when they were defeated 2-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in North London. Spurs were by far the better team after the break as Pape Matar Sarr broke the deadlock on the 49-minute mark before a Lisandro Martinez own goal seven minutes from time condemned the Red Devils to their first loss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In a fast-paced match with chances at both ends, Man United hit the woodwork three times.
Man United lost the midfield battle against a revamped Spurs team in the second half. Additionally, Man United’s away performance isn’t exactly stellar as they have only won three of their last 11 Premier League games away from home since the beginning of the year. But the Red Devils will be happy to be back at Old Trafford. They haven’t suffered a Premier League defeat since the first game of the previous campaign. They’ll be confident of victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. They have won each of their previous 10 meetings by an overall score of 36-3.
In fact, Ten Hag’s team shut out Forest in all four games played against them last season. It included a 3-0 Premier League victory at the Theatre of Dreams nine months prior. Nottingham Forest’s heroic comeback against Arsenal on the first weekend of the season was ultimately in vain. They lost 2-1 in North London, but they rebounded by beating Sheffield United 2-1 at home on Friday.
Following up on his goal against the Gunners, Taiwo Awoniyi scored the opening goal against the Blades in the third minute. Gustavo Hamer, making his debut, then successfully countered three minutes later. The City Ground was the site of 30 of Forest’s 38 points last season, which helped them avoid relegation.
Team News
Mason Mount is expected to miss up to six weeks of action after pulling his hamstring. The midfielder will join Tyrell Malacia (muscle), Tom Heaton (calf), Amad Diallo (knee), and Kobbie Mainoo (ankle) in the treatment room following the announcement on Monday that Mason Greenwood will be leaving Manchester United. Rasmus Hojlund, a high-profile addition to the Red Devils who arrived from Atalanta BC with a back injury. He has trained and is getting closer to being fully fit. Harry Maguire, who missed the defeat at Spurs because of an ankle problem, could make his matchday squad comeback.
Due to Mount’s absence, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, or Scott McTominay will likely start in center midfield alongside them. Ten Hag will decide whether to keep Antony and Alejandro Garnacho on the flanks or start Jason Sancho. Felipe, a defender for Nottingham Forest, is in the “final phases” of recovery from a knee injury. Saturday’s match will come too soon for the player, who is still out. Giulian Biancone, Wayne Hennessey, and Omar Richards (all with knee injuries) are also out.
To preserve his spot in the starting lineup this weekend, right winger Serge Aurier, who registered two assists against the Blades, will face competition from new acquisition Gonzalo Montiel, who finished his loan transfer from Sevilla on Wednesday. Either Morgan Gibbs-White or Anthony Elanga, a former Man United player, will round out the attacking triumvirate.
Manchester United 3 – 1 Nottingham Forest
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