Unexpected top-four hopefuls Nottingham Forest host last season’s surprise package Aston Villa in a marquee Saturday match-up at the City Ground.
Forest have won two-of-three matches since dropping back-to-back matches around the November international break, and a win Saturday would give the Nuno Espirito Santo’s Tricky Trees a great start to the Festive Fixtures.
WATCH - Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
Villa have won consecutive matches after a five-match skid cost themn table footing, a winless November paving the way for a tricky run of fixtures
A pair of home wins over Southampton and Brentford now lead them to Forest before Man City and Newcastle hit the fixture list Dec. 21 and 26.
Both sides have 25 points, two points back of fourth-place Manchester City but also two points above 10th place on this hyper-congested Premier League table.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday
Venue: City Ground — West Bridgford
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming:Watch live on NBC.com
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
Only three players have scored more Premier League goals than Chris Wood this still-young season, his 10 goals four away from his best single-season PL haul (He’s scored 14 twice, last season as well as the 2019-20 season with Burnley. Wood’s next PL goal with be his 80th in the competition, quite an achievement.
OUT: Danilo (ankle), Ibrahim Sangare (undisclosed), Alex Moreno (undisclosed)
Aston Villa team news, focus
Ollie Watkins has found himself back in form, pushed all the time by most-dangerous super sub Jhon Duran. Morgan Rogers has become one of the more powerful young attackers in the Premier League.
OUT: Jacob Ramsey (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Leon Bailey (thigh)
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa prediction
It’s difficult to bet against a sturdy Villa side at home, one that just tripped up Manchester United. And Villa faced Tuesday action in the UEFA Champions League to boot. But Unai Emery has navigated a tournament or two with style in his day. This will be a dogged affair with chances to spare, and perhaps fit for a split. Forest 1-1 Villa.