Nottingham Forest shocked the Premier League by finishing seventh last season, with the chances of repeating the trick and qualifying for UEFA competition now rated by a supercomputer.
Going into the 24/25 campaign, pundits including Gary Lineker predicted Forest to be relegated, leading to plenty of backtracking when the Reds continued to occupy a European place.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side spent a significant period in the Champions League positions, but form would tail off to leave Forest settling for 7th place, a remarkable achievement nonetheless.
With Crystal Palace’s CAS appeal ongoing, preparations for continental football have been complicated. Whichever competition they end up in, though, the Opta supercomputer is clearly predicting that the extra distraction will take its toll.
Nuno Espírito Santo watches on during Birmingham City vs Nottingham Forest
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Supercomputer predicts Nottingham Forest’s Premier League finish
In the transfer market, Igor Jesus has joined Forest to strengthen the attack, while Dan Ndoye arrived as the natural replacement for Anthony Elanga, who joined Newcastle United.
However, these new additions don’t look to have convinced the data that Forest can repeat last season’s heroics, with the supercomputer’s predicted Premier League table expecting the Reds to miss out on European football.
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 2025-26 📈
The 2025-26 Premier League season begins next week, but who will be crowned champions this time around?
We look at the pre-season Opta supercomputer predictions for the title, European qualification and relegation.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) August 6, 2025
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Opta’s data has predicted an 11th-place finish for Forest in 25/26, with a 5.9% chance of finishing seventh again.
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With a 4.4% chance of finishing 18th, the supercomputer clearly feels that Forest have a better chance of outperforming the data than underperforming, but the most likely outcome looks to be a midtable finish.
However, with time left in the transfer window, the right moves could see Forest move up the predicted rankings, and vice versa if crucial weak points in the squad aren’t addressed.
Nottingham Forest need a strong end to the transfer window
In terms of Espírito Santo’s starting XI, the team remains as strong as last season and one that can go toe to toe with any in the Premier League.
It’s deeper in the Forest squad that the problems lie, though, with a real concern that the depth available to the Portuguese manager won’t be enough to fight on both domestic and European fronts.
Forest are close to signing Jackson Tchatchoua which will solve the issue at right back, but another left-back is still required, along with depth out wide and potentially another central midfielder.
Nuno wants five more signings so it’s not as if the club are oblivious to the situation, with the onus now on Edu and the recruitment team to deliver for their manager.