Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
In the last round, one of the clubs couldn't withstand the Manchester test, although it was Manchester City, and not United, who fell short against Arsenal. This match presents a challenge for both teams or perhaps just one?
Manchester United
The clash with Arsenal (0:2) was not only about testing new head coach Rúben Amorim against a higher-level opponent but also about experimenting with new combinations on the pitch. This happened out of necessity due to numerous injuries and other reasons. Lisandro Martínez and Kobbie Mainoo were absent due to an accumulation of cards, though Leni Yoro and Tyrell Malacia were finally able to play at least half an hour. For the Frenchman, it was his first official appearance of the season. These defensive reshuffles have not made Manchester United's backline more robust, as Arsenal showed with numerous missed opportunities to punish the visitors further.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest found themselves steamrolled by Manchester City, frustrated from their extended winless run. Manchester City eventually clicked, and seven shots on target were enough for a rout. Now, they face another giant (at least on paper) from the same city. Conveniently, they didn't have to return home, with just three days between games. Manchester United should be wary of Nottingham Forest, who, despite losing two consecutive away matches 0:3 to the runners-up and the champions, scored in each of the previous five games and collected 11 points.
Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction
The hosts will find it difficult to keep a clean sheet against a team featuring natural-born scorer Chris Wood — he has netted 9 goals in 14 games, accounting for more than half of Nottingham Forest’s total (16). Manchester United, on the other hand, boast the youthful duo of Alejandro Garnacho (8 goals) and Marcus Rashford (7 goals), who have tallied 15 goals across all competitions. And let’s not overlook Bruno Fernandes with his proficiency in free kicks and corners. Our prediction is that both teams will find the net.
