West Ham vs Nottingham Forest Prediction - A Premier League Relegation Battle
West Ham and Nottingham Forest will face off in a dramatic relegation battle at London Stadium, where the result could determine the fate of the bottom group in the league table.
At 3:00 AM on January 7th, 2026, London Stadium will witness a direct clash between West Ham and Nottingham Forest. This is not just an ordinary match, but a battle for survival between two teams currently in the relegation zone of the Premier League this season.
Context and ranking position
Currently, both clubs are going through an incredibly difficult season. The gap between the two teams is only 4 points, making this encounter a true six-point match.
| Team | Location | Point | Recent form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest | 17 | 18 | Win 1, Loss 4 |
| West Ham | 18 | 14 | Draw 1, Loss 4 |
Performance analysis and professional statistics
West Ham: Crisis at London Stadium
The London club is in a critical situation, sitting in 18th place. After 20 matches, West Ham have only managed a meager 3 wins. Notably, their home form is particularly disappointing, having suffered 7 defeats at their London Stadium.
West Ham's defense is a major problem, having conceded 41 goals (an average of 2.1 goals per game). While their attack is scoring more consistently than their rivals, averaging 1.1 goals per game, the weaknesses at the back are hindering all their efforts.
Nottingham Forest: A glimmer of hope in a foreign land.
Ranked just one place above their rivals, Nottingham Forest have a slight psychological advantage with 18 points. However, their recent form is far from promising, having lost 4 of their last 5 Premier League matches.
Forest's strength lies in their somewhat more stable defense compared to West Ham, conceding an average of only 1.7 goals per game. This season, they have also managed to secure two away wins, an encouraging statistic ahead of their trip to London.
History of confrontations: An unbelievable balance
Looking at the last five encounters, history favors Nottingham Forest with three wins, while West Ham have won two. However, in their most recent meeting in August 2025, West Ham secured a convincing 3-0 victory away from home.
Force situation: Severe losses
Both teams entered this match with severely depleted squads due to injuries and international breaks.
West Ham
- M. Diouf and A. Wan-Bissaka:Absent due to international duty.
- L. Fabianski:Absent due to a back injury.
- Lucas Paqueta and J. Todibo:His availability for the match remains uncertain due to fitness issues and minor injuries.
Nottingham Forest
- W. Boly and I. Sangare:Absent due to international duty.
- C. Wood:He is sidelined due to a knee injury.
- R. Yates:He is sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
- John Victor:The injury is currently being monitored.
Tactical analysis and predictions
Given the crucial nature of the relegation battle, both West Ham and Nottingham Forest are likely to approach the game cautiously. The absence of key players due to international duty and injuries will force both managers to make careful personnel choices.
Experts believe Nottingham Forest have a slightly better chance of winning, or at least a draw (90% probability according to predictions). West Ham only have a 10% chance of securing all three points unless they improve their defensive lapses.
Forecast:Nottingham Forest win or draw.
Team lineup updated at 02:28 on 07/01/2026
Official lineup
West Ham
Diagram: 4-2-3-1
CoachNuno Espirito Santo
Starting lineup:
- 23. Alphonse Aréola (G)
- 2. Kyle Walker-Peters (D)
- 25. Jean-Clair Todibo (D)
- 15. Konstantinos Mavropanos (D)
- 30. Oliver Scarles (D)
- 18. Mateus Fernandes (M)
- 28. Tomáš Souček (M)
- 20. Jarrod Bowen (M)
- 10. Lucas Paquetá (M)
- 7. Crysencio Summerville (M)
- 11. Valentín Castellanos (F)
Substitutes:
- 1. Mads Hermansen
- 63. Ezra Mayers
- 3. Max Kilman
- 24. Guido Rodríguez
- 27. Soungoutou Magassa
- 32. Freddie Potts
- 55. Mohamadou Kanté
- 40. George Earthy
- 19. Pablo Felipe
Nottingham Forest
Diagram: 4-2-3-1
CoachSean Dyche
Starting lineup:
- 26. Matz Sels (G)
- 34. Ola Aina (D)
- 31. Nikola Milenković (D)
- 5. Murillo (D)
- 3. Neco Williams (D)
- 8. Elliot Anderson (M)
- 16. Nicolás Domínguez (M)
- 21. Omari Hutchinson (M)
- 10. Morgan Gibbs-White (M)
- 7. Callum Hudson-Odoi (M)
- 19. Igor Jesus (F)
Substitutes:
- 18. Angus Gunn
- 4. Morato
- 44. Zach Abbott
- 37. Nicolò Savona
- 12. Douglas Luiz
- 24. James McAtee
- 29. Dilane Bakwa
- 9. Taiwo Awoniyi
- 15. Arnaud Kalimuendo
