Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Manchester United will be eager to bounce back to winning ways when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford on Saturday.

The 2023/24 Premier League season will continue on Saturday with Gameweek 3. The action on the day will begin with the lunchtime kick-off between Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest. And the action will continue after that game when Manchester United host Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.

Manchester United would have hoped to have made a positive start to the 2023/24 season after a solid debut campaign for Erik ten Hag. But they have looked unconvincing thus far and were lucky to walk away with three points in their season-opening fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers. And the balance of things was back in restoration as Tottenham beat them 2-0 last week.

On the other hand, Nottingham Forest might have been more convincing than the hosts thus far. The Tricky Trees gave a good account of themselves when they faced Arsenal in a 2-1 loss in their opening tie. But Steve Cooper’s men bounced back with a solid showing at home last week, beating Sheffield United 2-1 at City Ground.

Manchester United and Nottingham Forest clashed four times last season, with Cooper’s charges failing to find the back of the net even once. Meanwhile, the Red Devils won by scorelines of 3-0, 3-0, 2-0, and 2-0. And ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter.

Team News & Tactics

Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has two new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of as many as six first-team players.

Mason Mount (hamstring) and Luke Shaw (muscle injury) are the latest absentees for Manchester United. The English duo has joined Tom Heaton (calf), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Kobbie Mainoo (ankle), and Amad Diallo (knee) on the sidelines.

But Harry Maguire (knock) and Rasmus Hojlund (back) might be available and fit enough to make the matchday squad. Meanwhile, Shaw and Malacia’s absence means ten Hag needs to find a makeshift left-back this weekend.

Alvaro Fernandez is a natural left-back at Manchester United. But the youngster will unlikely start, with Diogo Dalot probably getting the nod on the left flank. The Portuguese international will join Lisandro Martinez, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the defensive unit.

As for the midfield department, Mount’s absence creates an opportunity for Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay for the upcoming six weeks. And the former should rekindle his partnership with Casemiro in the double pivot.

Bruno Fernandes should reprise the no. 10 role and will have more freedom to express himself in Mount’s absence. The Manchester United captain will likely join Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Marcus Rashford in the final third. And Sancho will come into the starting eleven in place of the underperforming Alejandro Garnacho to reprise the “false nine” role.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Sancho

Nottingham Forest

Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Steve Cooper does not have many issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Nottingham Forest manager will be without four first-team players on Saturday.

Ola Aina (groin) is the most notable absentee for Nottingham Forest. But he has resumed light training and should be available next week. But Wayne Hennessey (knee), Omar Richards (leg), and Felipe (knee) will be on the sidelines until next month. Meanwhile, Cooper has a new signing in his squad, with Gonzalo Montiel arriving from Sevilla. But the World Cup winner will unlikely start on Saturday.

Matt Turner has done well since joining Nottingham Forest from Arsenal earlier this summer. And the USMNT international will look to give a good account of himself against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Nottingham Forest will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of Turner. The central defensive unit should feature Willy Boly, Joe Worrall, and Scott McKenna. The trio will remain compact to shut out the passing lanes, receiving defensive support from the wing-backs.

Speaking of the wide duo, Serge Aurier and Neco Williams will have the freedom to express themselves during transitions. The duo will be the primary source of chance-creation from the flanks. And they will flank Danilo and Ryan Yates in the middle of the park.

Brennan Johnson, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Taiwo Awoniyi are the shining lights for Nottingham Forest. And the trio will look to wreak havoc in the final third, with Awoniyi eager to continue his hot scoring streak this weekend.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Turner; Boly, Worrall, McKenna; Aurier, Danilo, Yates, Williams; Johnson, Gibbs-White; Awoniyi

Key Stats

• Manchester United have won their last 10 games against Nottingham Forest in all competitions, including all four meetings last season by an aggregate score of 10-0. The Tricky Trees have registered one victory in 12 Premier League meetings with the Red Devils, drawing two and losing nine.
• Manchester United have won seven successive home Premier League matches, their best run since they won eight in a row between May and November 2017. In addition, Erik ten Hag’s side have gone 30 games without defeat at Old Trafford, winning 26 and drawing four.
• Nottingham Forest have won four of their last eight Premier League games (D2 L2), one more than they managed in their previous 17 top-flight matches. But Steve Cooper’s side have recorded just one victory in 20 Premier League away games, drawing five and losing 14.
• Only Bournemouth (43) have faced more shots than Manchester United (40) in the 2023/24 Premier League season thus far.
• Taiwo Awoniyi has registered eight goals in his last six league games and can become the first player to score in Nottingham Forest’s opening three top-flight matches of a season since Peter Davenport in 1984/85.

Player to Watch

Marcus Rashford

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It was not long ago that Marcus Rashford was scoring goals for fun. But his form started withering away towards the end of last season. And he has been sub-par in the first two matches of the new campaign. Meanwhile, numbers do not make for a good reading for the Englishman.

Rashford has found the back of the net only five times in his last 20 games for Manchester United, and he is yet to score this season. So it is high time the 25-year-old stepped up and donned the talismanic hat again. With Manchester United desperately lacking goals, the academy graduate needs to find his scoring boots again.

Prediction

Manchester United 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Manchester United will be hurting after a dreadful defensive performance in the second half against Tottenham. And Erik ten Hag would have given his charges a dressing down after the defeat last weekend. So we can expect the Red Devils to produce a much better showing, albeit one that will still not be entirely convincing. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest will give the hosts a run for their money.

The Tricky Trees have found the back of the net in their last nine Premier League fixtures, scoring 17 goals. And with Manchester United showing poor signs at the back, Nottingham Forest should be in business. However, despite giving a tough fight, the visitors should suffer another away loss, with an improved Marcus Rashford guiding the home side to a narrow 2-1 victory.