Nottingham Forest’s outstanding season finishes with an enormous, winner-takes-all clash against top-five rivals Chelsea at the City Ground. Only one point separates the two in the hunt for Champions League qualification, and the Tricky Trees, currently in seventh place, could snatch the Londoners’ top-five spot with a final-day victory. Here is our predicted lineup for Nottingham Forest’s showdown with Chelsea.
Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineup for Huge Final Day Showdown against Champions League Rivals Chelsea
How Forest Have Lined Up Recently
After a disappointing run of four games without a win, Forest rediscovered their form against West Ham last time out, producing a classic Nuno Espirito Santo counter-attacking performance away from home. The Reds have won 19 Premier League games this season, and have done incredibly well to punch above their weight and possibly secure a Champions League place.
Remarkably consistent goalkeeper Matz Sels is just one game away from securing this season’s Golden Glove, although Arsenal’s David Raya has now matched his tally of 13 clean sheets.
At the back, Brazilian stalwart Murillo returned to the starting XI against the Hammers after recovering from a knock, partnering the ever-present Nikola Milenkovic in the centre of defence. Ola Aina and Neco Williams remain Forest’s first-choice full-backs, with the former facing the possibility of knocking his boyhood club out of the Champions League race.
Read More:Should Nuno Espirito Santo Win Manager of the Season?
Nuno opted for a midfield three against West Ham, perhaps to counter-act Graham Potter’s 3-4-1-2 system.Nicolas Dominguez, Ibrahim Sangaré, and Elliot Anderson formed the trio, with Sangaré becoming a regularin place of skipper Ryan Yates in recent weeks as the clubhave looked to get back on track.
Morgan Gibbs-White, who opened the scoring, operated behind the two strikers, with the 25-year-old’s impressive form this seasonearning him a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for June’s fixtures. Anthony Elanga and Chris Wood made up the strike partnership, with the former recording his 11thassist of the season against the East London side.
NottinghamForest Recent Form and Tactics
Forest have been highly impressive away from home this season, with only champions Liverpool recording more than their ten victories on the road. In contrast, the Tricky Trees rank ninth for home wins, completing the rare feat of winning more games on the road than in theirown backyard.
However, against Chelsea, Nuno’s side will need to turn the City Ground into a fortress, utilising the 30,404-capacity stadium’s impressive atmosphere to push Nuno’s side into producing one final top draw performance to cap off an incredible season.
One factor that may work in favour of the Midlands side is that Chelsea face Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final just three days after the Forest game, meaning that Enzo Maresca will need to balance the fitness of key players and may be forced to rotate his side at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest Injuries to Consider
Taiwo Awoniyi continues to step up his recovery after suffering an awful abdominal injury against Leicester City on May 11, with Nuno saying that the Nigerian striker is now“able to walk” and doing “much better”.
According toPremier Injuries, the club face an anxious wait to see if centre-back Murillo will be fit to face Chelsea, with the Brazilian twisting his ankle against the Hammers. Forest will desperate to have their star defender for the final day clash, and will be hopeful for a positive fitness test.
Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi returned to the bench against West Ham after around three weeks out and may be restored to the starting XI against his former club Chelsea.
Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineup vs Chelsea
GK: Matz Sels
RB: Ola Aina
CB: Nikola Milenkovic
CB: Murillo
LB: Neco Williams
DM: Ibrahim Sangaré
DM: Elliot Anderson
AM: Morgan Gibbs-White
RW: Anthony Elanga
LW: Callum Hudson-Odoi
ST: Chris Wood