Latest Nottingham Forest news as Ange Postecoglou's Reds prepare to face Chelsea in big City Ground clash
12:20, 18 Oct 2025
Nottingham Forest head coach Ange Postecoglou
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Nottingham Forest head coach Ange Postecoglou(Image: Getty)
Ange Postecoglou hopes having three key players back from injury can make a difference for Nottingham Forest against Chelsea.
The Reds head coach is under pressure going into the 12.30pm Premier League clash at the City Ground. He is yet to register a win after seven games in charge.
Defenders Murillo (back) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (groin) and midfielder Douglas Luiz (hamstring) have been included in the starting XI against the Blues after recovering from injury. For Postecoglou, the opportunity to spend time on the training ground with his players - something that has been in short supply since his appointment - was most welcome.
"Great to get them back,” he told TNT Sports (via the BBC) of the trio’s return. “They have proven Premier League experience.
"Murillo has hardly played for us. But when Dougie and Zinchenko have played they have made a difference to us so I'm sure they will contribute today."
Forest are 17th in the Premier League table ahead of kick-off. They have not won since the opening day of the season, when they beat Brentford.
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Nuno Espirito Santo was still in charge at that point. However, midfielder Elliot Anderson is confident the Reds’ form will turn around.
"Things haven't quite clicked yet,” he said ahead of the game. “ We want to come out on the front foot today.
“The lads have had a good week training and hopefully today we can get our first win. We are a lot more possession based now and last season we were a lot more attacking. We just need to hit the back of the net."
Against Chelsea Forest look set to stick with a back three, made up of Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo and Morato ahead of goalkeeper Matz Sels. Zinchenko and Neco Williams will take up the wing-back positions.
Luiz, Ibrahim Sangare and Elliot Anderson will make up the midfield. Morgan Gibbs-White will provide attacking support for surprise starter Taiwo Awoniyi in what could be similar to a 3-5-2 formation. The bench will be made up of John Victor, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood, Dan Ndoye, Nicolas Dominguez, Igor Jesus, Ryan Yates, Jair Cunha and Nicolo Savona.
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