Nottingham Forest host Manchester United in a Premier League encounter this evening with Nuno Espirito Santo’s men aiming to further secure their grip on a place in the top four.
Forest come into the match sitting third in the table, four points behind Arsenal in second and five ahead of Chelsea in fourth. Victory would move them one step closer to earning a spot in the Champions League next season but with a tightly contested battle happening below them any slip ups in the run in could prove costly.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are hoping to build on recent wins over Real Socidead and Leicester City. Ruben Amorim has stressed the need for his players to practice in his preferred 3-4-3 system and the international break came at a good time for the club. Defenders Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro are fit again and should lot back into the team as the Red Devils aim to end the year inside the top half of the table.
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Forest vs Man Utd
The successive defeats suffered by Manchester United in the past two top-flight meetings is more than they had in their first 13 Premier League encounters.
FA Cup quarter-final a ‘huge moment’ for Nottingham Forest, says Nuno Espirito Santo
Goalkeeper Matz Sels saved spot-kicks from Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez as Forest beat Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at the Amex Stadium.
Sels had previously made crucial saves in shoot-outs against Exeter and Ipswich in the previous two rounds.
Man Utd line-up versus Forest
Man Utd XI: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Garnacho, Zirkzee, Fernandes
Nottingham Forest line-up to face Man Utd
Forest XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Danilo; Awoniyi
Back-to-back home wins?
Nottingham Forest are also looking to win consecutive home league games against the Red Devils for the first time since the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons.
They ended a run of seven games without a victory at the City Ground last season.
Can Forest do the double?
Nottingham Forest are looking to complete their first league double over Manchester United since the 1991-92 campaign under Brian Clough.
In the reverse fixture they defeated United 2-3 at Old Trafford back in early December.
Nottingham Forest’s fairytale season continues with penalty shootout triumph at Brighton
The Belgian goalkeeper saved spot-kicks from Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez as Forest beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-3 on penalties after a largely dismal goalless draw at the Amex Stadium.
Will Man Utd’s loan players return?
Marcus Rashford and Antony have been sent out on loan and are excelling for their new clubs.
Ruben Amorim was asked whether the two players will return at the end of the season or if their loans will be made permanent.
He replied: “I know Rashford really well and everybody knows the talent that he has. So I already spoke about that. He’s a top player, if he wants. So I’m not surprised.
“And like I said, it’s the same with Antony, it’s a good thing. We see our players doing well on loan in a different context. That can happen and it’s a good sign for the club.”
Forest hit record revenues
Nottingham Forest have generated £100m from player sales meaning they have recorded a profit for the latest set of accounts.
For the year ending June 30, 2024, Forest recorded an operating loss of £73.3m.
However, before tax that is a profit of £12.1m after interest and the £100m from transfers – described as “profit on disposal of players”.
Those figures compare to a £59.6m operating loss for the previous year.
Forest also had record revenues of £189.6m up from £154.8m in 2023.
Morgan Gibbs-White to be assessed
Morgan Gibbs-White will be assessed to see if he is able to feature in tonight’s match after a heavy collision with the post during the weekend’s FA Cup win over Brighton.
“We are going to assess him,” said Nuno Espirito Santo. “He had a big contact against the post. His leg was not okay and he was struggling.”
Source: independent.co.uk
