Manchester United are looking to win back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season when they travel to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.
It promises to be a difficult match for Manchester United as Nottingham Forest have enjoyed an amazing season.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sit 3rd in the Premier League after booking a place in the FA Cup semi-finals against Manchester City. It’s been a completely different story to what United fans have witnessed at Old Trafford – sitting 13th in the league table.
Ruben Amorim has multiple reasons to be wary of Forest, and they’ve beaten United in their last two league meetings.
Forest won this exact fixture 2-1 last season thanks to goals from Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White, but they haven’t beaten United in consecutive league campaigns since 1990.
Without further ado, here are five things to watch out for when Nottingham Forest host Manchester United in the Premier League.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Nottingham Forest are a force at the City Ground
It has been an amazing season for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side as they challenge for a top four finish in the Premier League.
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One reason for that is Forest’s incredible form at the City Ground, where they are unbeaten in their last eight home league matches, winning six and drawing two.
Forest go into the game after securing a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Forest will be wary of Bruno Fernandes threat
Forest boss Nuno praised United’s squad ahead of the match, but he was careful enough not to give anything away by namedropping players he’ll want his players to keep a close eye on.
Bruno Fernandes will undoubtedly be the focus for Forest after scoring or assisting a goal in each of the last four top-flight games for United.
The Portugal international may have his critics but he remains United’s most influential player.
Games Goals Assists
44 16 16
Bruno Fernandes stats this season
Fernandes is just four goals away from scoring 20 in all competitions this season.
Anthony Elanga looks to haunt former club
After graduating from Manchester United’s academy, Anthony Elanga made 55 appearances for the first-team before being sold to Forest in 2023.
The 22-year-old has become a key player under Nuno as a two-footed winger renowned for his ball-carrying ability, especially on the counter-attack.
The Sweden international was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award, along with Fernandes, after starring in Forest’s win over Manchester City and scoring a brace in Forest’s 4-2 win over Ipswich Town.
Games Goals Assists
55 4 4
Antony Elanga stats for Manchester United
Elanga managed to register an assist against United when Forest won 2-1 at the City Ground last season. He will be looking to haunt United again on Tuesday night.
Forest could be without two key attackers
Nottingham Forest could be without two key attacking players when they face United.
The biggest blow for the hosts could be Chris Wood’s absence after Forest’s top scorer sustained an injury on international duty before missing their FA Cup victory over Brighton at the weekend.
Wood remains a doubt to face United and Forest also have concerns around other players, including Morgan Gibbs-White. The England international crashed into a post at the Amex and he’s touch-and-go to feature against the Reds.
Wood and Gibbs-White have 23 goals between them this season, with the former scoring 18 of those.
Ruben Amorim given defence boost
United’s injury list grew before the international break when Ayden Heaven was forced off on a stretcher in United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City.
The injury to Heaven sparked fears because many feared his season was over, while it also meant Amorim had fewer options to select from in a depleted defence.
However, Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro returned to training this week and are in contention to return for United at the City Ground.
Amorim also has Matthijs de Ligt, Victor Lindelof and Noussair Mazraoui to select from in the heart of defence against Forest.