Nottingham Forest v Tottenham preview
Nottingham Forest are targeting a third win in four matches in all competitions and another step away from the Premier League relegation zone when Tottenham visit the City Ground on Sunday.
Forest won at Wolves and Utrecht either side of a 3-0 defeat at Everton, with 11th-placed Tottenham likely to provide a sterner test than the bottom side in the top flight and the Dutch side without a victory in this season’s Europa League.
“It’s a different animal when you’re coming back to the Premier League and facing the likes of Tottenham, who have an excellent away record,” said Forest coach Sean Dyche.
“We want to step on and get that winning mentality in the whole squad. We’ve had to use the squad in Utrecht and we’ve brought them back – hopefully – fit and well.”
Dyche called counterpart Thomas Frank a manager “that I know personally and think a lot of”, and the Dane also had cause to celebrate during the week as his side won 3-0 at home to Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday.
“I expect a very, very difficult game,” warned Frank. “Every time I see and analyse his team, I think they are extremely competitive.
“We are in a fine place – not an exceptional place, but a fine place. I expect us to go there with confidence and belief and a good chance of getting three points.
“I also expect it to be unbelievably difficult. It’s nice to share experiences with good friends and colleagues like [Dyche].”
Forest v Tottenham team news
Forest could rotate again after making nine changes for the 2-1 win in the Netherlands on Thursday, when Igor Jesus struck the 88th-minute winner.
Defenders Oleksandr Zinchenko and Murillo returned from injury, as did midfielder Douglas Luiz, who played the first half.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels has been ever-present in this season’s Premier League but did not travel to Utrecht as a precaution over a groin issue. Captain Ryan Yates has a potentially long-term hamstring injury.
Forward Chris Wood and goalkeeper Angus Gunn (both knee), full-back Ola Aina (hamstring) and striker Taiwo Awoniyi are still injured.
Brennan Johnson is likely to return from injury for Spurs but Frank suggested fellow forward Dominic Solanke is unlikely to be ready yet despite an Instagram post by the 28-year-old hinting that he is closing in on a comeback.
“It is an injury that he picked up in July and it’s dragged on for a while,” Frank said of Solanke’s predicament. “When he is training fully with the team and available for selection, I’ll say something.”
Defenders Destiny Udogie and Kota Takai (both hamstring) and centre-back Radu Dragusin (knee) remain out, as do midfielders James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski with knee injuries.
Yves Bissouma has been absent because of an internal disciplinary matter.
Nottingham Forest v Spurs predicted starting lineups
Nottingham Forest starting XI: Matz Sels, Nikol Millato, Morato, Neco Williams, Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson, Dan Nidoe, Igor Jesus
Tottenham starting XI: Vicario, Pedro Dead, Christian Romero, Son, Tyth of Spence, Mohammed Burn, Rodrigo Bentancur, Xaving Simons, Archiemae Gray, Colotian Randal, Richarlison
How to watch Forest v Spurs: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Sunday is at 14:00 GMT (09:00 ET / 06:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra.
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Streaming is available on a vast variety of devices via the Sky GO app.
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham stats
- Dyche has won two of his 17 Premier League games against Spurs (D5 L10), both coming with Burnley (2-1 in February 2019, 1-0 in February 2022)
- The Englishman’s next Premier League defeat will be his 153rd in the competition, putting him joint-seventh on the list of most managerial losses in the division alongside Arsène Wenger, who managed 488 more such matches (828) than Dyche (340)
- Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson had made more line-breaking passes in the opposition half than any other player in the Premier League this season (90)
- Having lost six consecutive Premier League games against Spurs between 1998 and 2024, Forest did the league double against them last season
- Only Wolves (9) have failed to score in more different Premier League games than Forest this season (8), although Forest are unbeaten in their last 11 league games (W6 D5) in which they have netted since a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in April
- Tottenham have the largest difference between goals scored (25) and expected goals (15) in the Premier League this season, netting around 10 goals more than their xG suggests.
- Spurs haven’t won any of their five Premier League away games when conceding against Nottingham Forest (D1 L4), with all three of their victories at the City Ground being to nil
- Richarlison has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other Tottenham player this season (8 – 6 goals, 2 assists)
- The Brazil international has played a direct part in 18 goals (17 goals, 1 assist) in his last 24 league starts for Tottenham
- Only Crystal Palace have won more Premier League away games (5) and points (16) than Tottenham this season (4 wins, 14 points), while Spurs are also the only side to have scored in all of their games on the road so far
