Nottingham Forest and Manchester United will be eager to build on their wins this week when they clash at the City Ground on Saturday.
The second half of the 2023/24 Premier League season gets underway on Saturday with the game between Luton Town and Chelsea at Kenilworth Road. The action on the day will end at the City Ground, where Nottingham Forest will host Manchester United.
Nottingham Forest parted ways with Steve Cooper last week despite having more points than at the same stage in the 2022/23 season. Nonetheless, Nuno Espirito Santo replaced the fan favourite at the City Ground and has overseen a narrow defeat and a comprehensive win thus far. The result on Boxing Day might fill the City Ground faithful with confidence about the new era.
As for Manchester United, they have lost nearly half of the games they have played thus far this season. The dreaded “second season syndrome” is in full swing for Erik ten Hag, whose charges have not performed consistently. But there were signs of a turnaround after a solid offensive display against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. In addition, coming from two goals down to win a game can galvanise a group. So, the Dutchman will hope that’s the case with his squad.
The reverse fixture saw Manchester United come from two goals down to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2, with Bruno Fernandes scoring the match-winning penalty. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Saturday, the Nottingham Forest manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players.
Willy Boly is available after serving a suspension on Boxing Day. The experienced defender’s return means Felipe (muscle injury), Serge Aurier (calf), Ibrahim Sangare (suspension), and Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) are the only players on the sidelines.
Awaoniyi’s continued absence means Chris Wood will continue leading the line for Nottingham Forest against Manchester United. But the New Zealander striker has nailed down his position anyway after his match-winning hat-trick against his former club, Newcastle United.
Matt Turner will take his spot between the sticks, with Nottingham Forest lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Manchester United. The backline should feature the returning Boly, who will pair up with Murillo at the heart of the defence. Harry Toffolo and Neco Williams will be the two full-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Orel Mangala and Danilo should pair up in a defensive-minded double pivot. The duo will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park, leaving the responsibility of providing the creative impetus to the trifecta of Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Turner; Williams, Boly, Murillo, Toffolo; Mangala, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Nottingham Forest dugout, Erik ten Hag has many pressing injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to the City Ground. The Manchester United manager will be without at least nine first-team players on Saturday.
Luke Shaw is the latest absentee, with the Englishman recovering from a muscle injury. Shaw accompanies Lisandro Martinez (foot), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Victor Lindelof (groin), Harry Maguire (groin), Sofyan Amrabat (muscle injury), Casemiro (thigh), and Mason Mount (calf) in the treatment room.
In addition, the Dutchman is sweating over the fitness of Amad Diallo and Anthony Martial. Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho remains unavailable due to his ongoing tussle with the manager.
Andre Onana will play his final Premier League game before embarking for the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon. Manchester United will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of Onana, with the backline featuring Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, and Diogo Dalot.
As for the midfield unit, Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay will pair up in the double pivot. Bruno Fernandes will reprise his usual no. 10 role, while Alejandro Garnacho will continue in the unfamiliar no. 10 role that produced unbelievably exceptional results this week. Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund will complete the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot; Mainoo, McTominay; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Manchester United have won 11 consecutive matches against Nottingham Forest in all competitions since drawing 1-1 at the City Ground in the Premier League on 27 November 1995.
- Nottingham Forest Forest are vying for back-to-back Premier League wins for just the second time since securing promotion last year, having beaten Southampton and Leicester City in consecutive fixtures in January.
- Manchester United have won their final league fixture in the most recent five years. They last ended the year with a defeat in 2011, with Blackburn Rovers beating them 3-2 at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest won their final league game in one of the most recent nine calendar years and ended 2022 with a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.
- Manchester United are in danger of going four consecutive top-flight away games without scoring for the first time since a similar sequence in March and April 1989, which included a 2-0 defeat at the City Ground.
- Anthony Elanga has scored four goals in 19 league appearances for Nottingham Forest, one more than he managed in 39 games for Manchester United.
Player to Watch
Marcus Rashford
Alejandro Garnacho was a candidate for this section after producing an exceptional performance from the right flank despite playing in the position for the first time. Rasmus Hojlund was another option after finally breaking his duck for Manchester United in domestic football. But we have gone ahead with Marcus Rashford.
The English international has endured a horrific season, with his stock plummeting in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign. But he showed flashes of what made him a talismanic figure for Manchester United last season. Rashford will look to build on that in the coming weeks, for with him in form, the Red Devils will rediscover their best displays.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United
Both teams are desperate for a win to end the year and move clear of positions they do not want to find themselves in at the end of the season. Nuno Espirito Santo is enjoying the “new manager bounce” at the City Ground, which will be palpable on Saturday.
The hosts will give the Red Devils a run for their money this weekend. But the system that flourished against Aston Villa should also turn up on the weekend, with Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, and Alejandro Garnacho delivering the goods for Manchester United. The Hard Tackle predicts a close contest which will end with Manchester United clinching a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.