Nottingham Forest will face Manchester United in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest are coming off a 1-1 draw in the league against Gary O’Neil’s Bournemouth. Bournemouth’s first-half goal by winger Jaidon Anthony was canceled out by Nottingham Forest’s late second-half equaliser by forward Sam Surridge.
Manchester United, on the other hand, were defeated 3-2 by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the Premier League. Arsenal won a tense match thanks to a brace from striker Eddie Nketiah and a goal from forward Bukayo Saka. Star attacker Marcus Rashford and Argentine center-back Lisandro Martinez scored Manchester United’s goals.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
In their most recent league meeting, Manchester United easily defeated Nottingham Forest 3-0. Brennan Johnson, a Wales international, scored six league goals in 18 appearances for Nottingham Forest. Marcus Rashford has scored 12 goals in 18 league appearances for Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes, a Portuguese midfielder, scored eight goals in 19 appearances for Manchester United. Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has five league goals to his name.
Nottingham Forest are 13th in the league and have won two of their previous five games. Nottingham Forest have not shied away from investing additional money in January after effectively signing a brand new team last summer. The club’s most recent permanent additions are Brazilian midfielders Gustavo Scarpa and Danilo.
Chris Wood, a striker from Newcastle United, has joined on loan. Wood was an effective striker for Burnley, averaging over ten goals each season throughout his career in the Premier League. His acquisition will give Nottingham Forest’s offense additional quality and physical presence.
Manchester United will place greater emphasis on the EFL Cup now that their recent loss to Arsenal has effectively ended any forlorn prospect of a championship push. The loss did not suggest that Manchester United played poorly; rather, it demonstrated that Arsenal played better.
Manchester United will be comforted by this fact. Manager Erik ten Hag deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround in form and fortunes that he has created in his short time at the club, and the fact that his team went toe-to-toe with probably the finest team in the Premier League is a significant plus. A trophy in his debut season was not expected, but it will be greatly appreciated.
Team News
As Henderson recovers from a thigh injury, Forest’s final line of defence will be Wayne Hennessey, who is joined in the infirmary by Taiwo Awoniyi, Cheikhou Kouyate, Omar Richards, Moussa Niakhate, and Giulian Biancone.
Due to sickness, Ryan Yates was only able to play the first half of Forest’s 0-0 draw with Bournemouth, allowing Danilo to make his debut, and the former Palmeiras midfielder may be considered for a starting berth today following a strong second-half cameo.
The approach of winter Following his recent exploits with Newcastle United, Chris Wood is also cup-tied for this match, allowing Gustavo Scarpa to return as Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson form the striking tandem.
For Man United, Ten Hag will welcome Casemiro back with warm arms after the Brazilian missed the loss to Arsenal due to suspension, thereby ending Scott McTominay’s brief stint in the starting XI. Axel Tuanzebe and Donny van de Beek are still out for the Red Devils, who are also unlikely to see Jadon Sancho, who is now in team training, return anytime soon, while Anthony Martial (leg) and Diogo Dalot (hamstring) are also racing against the clock to be fit.
Ten Hag should keep the majority of his changes for the weekend’s FA Cup match against Reading and start with a solid XI at the City Ground, although Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia are among players who should expect returns.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest 1-3 Manchester United
