Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
The eighth round concludes with a Monday fixture at the City Ground, where Nottingham Forest will be looking to end a run of three matches without a win. It will be intriguing to see how they fare without several key players.
Nottingham Forest
In the previous round at the start of October, Nottingham Forest withstood Chelsea's pressure, notably enduring Noni Madueke's antics from the right flank, to draw with one of the leaders (1:1). However, they lost two midfielders: Morgan Gibbs-White to an ankle injury and James Ward-Prowse, who was sent off in the second half after receiving two yellows. Despite these setbacks, the team almost clinched a victory in the final moments of injury time but were denied by the goalkeeper. Both players will definitely miss this game, though they have adequate replacements available.
Crystal Palace
Last round, Crystal Palace also faced one of the favourites but, unlike Nottingham Forest, failed to secure even a single point at home. Liverpool scored early and held on to their narrow advantage until the end. The Londoners managed more shots on target (5-4) and forced more fouls from the opposition (7-15), but still had fewer big chances (2-4).
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace Prediction
In the past two seasons, the sides have shared the spoils with three draws, and Nottingham Forest claimed a home victory once (1:0). This doesn't mean a draw is inevitable. Judging by the quality of hosts' football, a draw at the very least seems likely, and a home victory is possible once more. It's worth backing the hosts with a handicap (0).
