Manchester United welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford on Tuesday night for the first time since Boxing Day 1998.
Since a humiliating derby defeat to Manchester City on the first weekend of October, United have won ten of their next 13 games across all competitions – losing just once to Aston Villa and rediscovering their good form with a sharp display in the Carabao Cup against Burnley last time out. Wednesday.
Nottingham Forest also progressed to the quarter-finals of the League Cup, knocking out second-tier Blackburn Rovers to make it three consecutive wins in all competitions. Steve Cooper’s side remain inside the relegation zone but are just one point from the safety of the perforated line.
Here’s everything you need to know about these clubs’ first meeting in the 21st century.
Man Utd team news
England’s Harry Maguire was sidelined against Burnley with a virus which puts his involvement this weekend in doubt. Diogo Dalot is nursing a hamstring injury while Axel Tuanzebe is still rebuilding his fitness.
Any hope for Jadon Sancho’s imminent return was bluntly quashed by Ten Hag.
Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane – World Cup finalists with Argentina and France respectively – aren’t expected back until New Year’s Eve.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest
Man Utd Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
Bench: Dubravka, Bennett, Malacia, Williams, Van de Beek, Fred, Elanga, Pellistri, Garnacho.
Nottingham Forest team news
Cooper will be without the trio of Moussa Niakhate, Cheikhou Kouyate (thigh injuries) and Giulan Biancone (knee) for the foreseeable future. Omar Richards is nearing a return while both Serge Aurier (calf) and Morgan Gibbs-White (knock) are nursing minor niggles.
Forest’s first-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson will not be available to face his parent club. Cooper is ‘hopeful’ Wayne Hennessey will be fit enough to patrol the posts in Henderson’s absence.
Jesse Lingard warmed up for his return to Old Trafford with a scruffy, deflected free-kick against Blackburn in midweek. (Although, he is yet to find the net in the Premier League for the Tricky Trees.)
Nottingham Forest predicted lineup vs Man Utd
Nottingham Forest Starting 11 (4-3-3): Hennessey; Williams, Cook, McKenna, Toffolo; Freuler, Mangala, Yates; Johnson, Awoniyi, Lingard.
Bench: Smith, Worrall, Boly, Soh, Lodi, Colback, O’Brien, Surridge, Dennis.