Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction - Premier League
Manchester United face a tough challenge from Nottingham Forest in the 37th round of the Premier League as the Red Devils need points to protect their third-place position in the standings.
The match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest will take place at 6:30 PM on May 17, 2026, at Old Trafford. This is a crucial point in the season, as both teams are striving for their respective goals in England's top league.
Current league position and form
Currently, Manchester United sits in third place with 65 points after 36 matches. The Old Trafford side has shown impressive home form with 12 wins out of 18 matches played so far this season. However, their recent form has been inconsistent, with 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their last 5 games.
On the other side of the pitch, Nottingham Forest are currently 16th with 43 points. Despite their significantly lower position, the visitors are enjoying an incredibly impressive run of form with 4 wins and 1 draw in their last 5 matches, demonstrating a strong determination to avoid relegation.
| Team | Location | Point | form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 3 | 65 | 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss |
| Nottingham Forest | 16 | 43 | 4 wins, 1 draw |
Head-to-head history: Nottingham Forest is the 'nemesis'
A noteworthy statistic is that in the last five encounters, Nottingham Forest surprisingly holds the advantage over Manchester United. The visitors have won three times, while Manchester United have only managed one victory, with the remaining match ending in a draw.
- November 1, 2025: Nottingham Forest 2 - 2 Manchester United
- April 2, 2025: Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Manchester United
- December 8, 2024: Manchester United 2 - 3 Nottingham Forest
- February 29, 2024: Nottingham Forest 0 - 1 Manchester United
- December 31, 2023: Nottingham Forest 2 - 1 Manchester United
Force situation and personnel losses
Both managers are grappling with personnel issues ahead of this crucial match. Manchester United will definitely be without key central defender Matthijs de Ligt due to a back injury. The availability of Benjamin Sesko and Manuel Ugarte remains uncertain.
Nottingham Forest suffered a further blow with an extended list of absentees including Ola Aina, Willy Boly, Callum Hudson-Odoi, John Victor, Murillo, and Nicolo Savona due to various injuries. In addition, creative midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is also being monitored for a head injury.
List of absent and pending players:
- Manchester United:M. de Ligt (absent - back injury), B. Sesko (doubtful - leg injury), M. Ugarte (doubtful - back injury).
- Nottingham Forest:O. Aina (absent), W. Boly (absent - knee injury), C. Hudson-Odoi (absent), Murillo (absent - muscle injury), M. Gibbs-White (doubtful - head injury).
Tactical analysis and predictions
Manchester United, with the advantage of playing at home, will undoubtedly take the initiative to attack and seek an early goal. However, the absence of De Ligt could leave the Red Devils' defense vulnerable to Nottingham Forest's counter-attacks. Based on their head-to-head history and the visitors' recent impressive form, this match is predicted to be very difficult for the home team.
Experts rate the likelihood of the match ending in a draw or a surprise victory for Nottingham Forest as quite high (around 45% for each scenario), while Manchester United's chances of winning are only rated at 10% based on recent head-to-head statistics.
