Manchester United return to domestic league action on Tuesday as they host Premier League bottom-feeders, Nottingham Forest.
Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester)
Key Statistics
Manchester United have scored 20 goals and conceded 20 goals in the league this season.
They are unbeaten in their last five home league games (W4, D1).
The Red Devils have the best defensive record for home teams this season, conceding just four goals in six home games.
They have lost just one of their last 19 meetings with teams who came up from the Championship (W12, D6).
Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last four competitive games (W3, D1).
They have won just two points on the road this term, scoring only once and conceding an eye-watering 19 times.
They have failed to score in only one of their last six games.
Head to head
Manchester United have won six of the last six meetings between both sides. Nottingham Forest’s last meeting over United came in a 2-1 win here at Old Trafford in December 1994.
Latest performances in all competitions
Manchester United: W-L-L-W-W
Nottingham Forest: W-W-L-L-L
Manchester United
Manchester United will look to make a winning return to the Premier League when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils ended the first phase of the league on a high note thanks to a last-gasp 2-1 win over Fulham in a game that saw Alejandro Garnacho announce himself on the big stage.
The teenager looks like he will play a huge role in United’s season, especially as Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer at the club. He was also in the starting XI in midweek as Erik ten Hag’s men beat Burnley 2-0 in the Carabao Cup.
That win over Vincent Kompany’s side means that United has now won their last three competitive games while scoring 2+ goals each.
Another game under the Old Trafford lights awaits for hosts who face Nottingham Forest at this venue for the first time since 1998. The hosts come into this fixture looking to extend a stellar five-match home winning run in all competitions, four of which came ‘to nil’.
Facing off against newly promoted opposition should heighten belief the Red Devils can extend that run, given that they’ve lost just one of their last 19 meetings with teams who came up from the Championship (W12, D6).
Possible Manchester United starting line-up
David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Antony Matheus dos Santos, Bruno Fernandes; Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial.
Injured: Jadon Sancho
Doubtful: Harry Maguire
Suspended: None
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest will look to make it five competitive games without defeat when they travel to Old Trafford on Tuesday.
The newly promoted visitors began the season poorly but picked up just before the World Cup break, winning two out of their last five PL games (D1, L2). One of those wins was a massive 1-0 win over Liverpool at home, and the other was a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace, pushing the Tricky Trees into 18th place, one point shy of safety.
Meanwhile, Steve Cooper brings his Forest side to Manchester in a buoyant mood after masterminding a 4-1 win over Blackburn in the Carabao Cup in midweek. The win secured the visitors their first quarter-final appearance in that competition in nearly 30 years.
They will now look to repeat that strong performance against Man United as they attempt to get out of the drop zone. However, a poor away form could stand in their way of doing that. Steve Cooper’s side have won just two points on the road this term, scoring only once and conceding an eye-watering 19 times.
Possible Nottingham Forest starting line-up
Wayne Hennessey; Neco Williams, Steve Cook, Scott Mckenna, Renan Lodi; Ryan Yates, Orel Mangala, Remo Freuler; Morgan Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson, Jesse Lingard.
Injured: Dean Henderson, Cheikhou Kouyate, Omar Richards, Julián Biancone, Moussa Niakhate.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Odds
Prediction
Manchester United 2-0 Nottingham Forest
