Manchester United and Nottingham Forest will be eager to return to winning ways when they clash at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The games continue to come thick and fast in the Premier League, with Gameweek 15 starting less than 48 hours after the previous round of fixtures ended. The action on Saturday will begin with the Merseyside derby before it ends with Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s recent unbeaten run ended earlier this week, going down 2-0 against Arsenal. The Red Devils were on a seven-game unbeaten run after parting ways with Erik ten Hag, and Ruben Amorim was having a positive impact on his squad. However, the defeat to Arsenal threatens to halt the team’s momentum.
Nottingham Forest will look to take advantage of the situation, although the visitors also come into this match on the back of a midweek defeat. The Tricky Trees suffered a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier this week, with the result ending City’s winless run. However, despite losing three of their last four Premier League games, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men remain one of the most impressive teams in the top flight this term.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Manchester United come from two goals down to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2, with Bruno Fernandes scoring the match-winning goal from the spot. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager might be bereft of the services of only two first-team players vs Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo will return after serving their suspensions earlier this week against Arsenal. In addition, Jonny Evans is closing in on rejoining the group, and he will require a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Victor Lindelof (groin) and Luke Shaw (calf) remain on the sidelines.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The backline will feature Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Lisandro Martinez, with Yoro making his first start for Manchester United.
Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot should be the two wing-backs, with Casemiro likely pairing up with Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the park. Finally, Marcus Rashford, Joshua Zirkzee, and captain Bruno Fernandes will form a fluid trifecta in the offensive department.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Yoro, de Ligt, Martinez; Diallo, Casemiro, Mainoo, Dalot; Bruno Fernandes, Zirkzee; Rashford
Nottingham Forest
Like his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Nuno Espirito Santo does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Nottingham Forest manager will be without two first-team players on Saturday.
Danilo (ankle) and Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring) remain on the sidelines, with the duo unavailable for the foreseeable future. Otherwise, Nuno has a full-strength squad to take on Manchester United this weekend.
Matz Sels will take his spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The backline should feature Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, and Alex Moreno.
As for the midfield unit, Elliot Anderson should pair up with Ryan Yates in the double pivot. Morgan Gibbs-White will reprise the no. 10 role, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga being the two wide attackers. Finally, Chris Wood will spearhead the Nottingham Forest attack against Manchester United on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Anderson; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga; Wood
Key Stats
Nottingham Forest have lost 12 of their last 13 matches vs Manchester United in all competitions. The Red Devils have won seven consecutive home meetings, including by 3-2 in this fixture last season.
Manchester United have clinched four successive home victories in all competitions, scoring 12 goals in total and at least twice in each match. In addition, Ruben Amorim has won his last 15 home fixtures in all competitions.
Nottingham Forest have lost three of their last four Premier League matches after they suffered a defeat only once in their opening ten top-flight games this season.
Nottingham Forest have scored the opening goal in a league-high 11 of their 14 top-flight matches this season.
Bruno Fernandes has been involved in 11 goals in his last ten appearances at Old Trafford in all competitions, scoring four and assisting seven.
Player to Watch
Marcus Rashford
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Ruben Amorim has aggressively rotated his troops in the early days of his reign as the Manchester United manager. Saturday’s game will bring Marcus Rashford back into the starting eleven, and the Englishman will be eager to continue his turnaround.
Rashford has scored three goals in three Premier League appearances under Amorim, as many goals as in his previous 23 top-flight games. The 27-year-old has found the back of the net in each start under the new Manchester United manager, and he will aim to continue that run vs Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Prediction
Manchester United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
A few weeks ago, Nottingham Forest might have been the surprise favourites to clinch three points in this fixture. However, things have turned around considerably in the last few weeks, and Manchester United have been excellent at home in recent outings.
On the other hand, the Tricky Trees have lost three of their last four Premier League games, including two successive away outings. While the away side will take the game to the hosts, Manchester United should have enough quality to eke a narrow win. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Ruben Amorim and his charges.