Nottingham Forest lock horns with Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United side in an important clash at the City Ground on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag’s side threw away a two-goal lead against Sevilla on Thursday night, hardly ideal preparation for a trip to a team battling relegation.
United have little more margin for error in the race for the top four and their away form has been nothing like the kind they’ve shown at home.
Forest, on the other hand, are the complete opposite. If anything is going to keep Steve Cooper’s side up this season, it will be their home form.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United is scheduled for a 4.30pm BST kick-off time on Sunday 16 April, 2023.
The City Ground in Nottingham will host.
> Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United Live broadcast listings (TV, live streaming)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Manchester United have a good historical record against Nottingham Forest and have won 51 out of the 108 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Nottingham Forest’s 33 victories.
- The previous game between these two teams at the City Ground in the Premier League ended in an 8-1 victory for Manchester United in 1999, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scoring four goals.
- Manchester United have won their last nine matches against Nottingham Forest in all competitions and have won all three matches between the two teams this season.
- Manchester United have won their last six matches against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and have scored at least three goals in each of these games.
- Nottingham Forest are winless in their last nine Premier League games and have failed to keep a clean sheet during this period.
> Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United historical statistics
Team News
The overworked doctors at the City Ground were handed another two players to look after last weekend, as Cheikhou Kouyate and Moussa Niakhate suffered hamstring injuries, with the latter being replaced without a substitution in the dying embers.
Keeping Kouyate and Niakhate company in a well-occupied treatment room are Giulian Biancone (knee), Renan Lodi (knock), Omar Richards (calf), Gustavo Scarpa (knee), Chris Wood, Willy Boly and Dean Henderson (all thigh), but the latter could not play against his parent club anyway.
Ryan Yates (shoulder) and Serge Aurier have not been given the green light to return either, while Remo Freuler and Orel Mangala should look forward to immediate recalls in place of Kouyate and Niakhate.
As mentioned, Man United lost both of Varane and Martinez to foot issues in their stalemate with Sevilla; the latter has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a metatarsal fracture, but there is hope that Varane will be back before the campaign concludes.
Ten Hag’s first-choice centre-backs are joined in the infirmary by Marcus Rashford (groin), Donny van de Beek (knee), Luke Shaw (thigh), Tom Heaton and Alejandro Garnacho (both ankle), but Scott McTominay should be in contention to return from a knock.
Sunday’s game will see the return of the Maguire-Victor Lindelof pairing in place of Varane and Martinez, while a fit-again Christian Eriksen could also benefit from some rotation further up the field.
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Navas; Williams, Worrall, Felipe, Toffolo; Freuler, Danilo, Mangala; Gibbs-White, Johnson; Dennis
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia; Fernandes, Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Martial, Sancho
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester United
