Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham preview
Nottingham Forest are aiming for a third win in four matches in all competitions and a step further from the Premier League relegation zone when Tottenham visit the City Ground on Sunday.
Forest won against 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-flight side and the winless Dutch side in the Europa League this season.
“It’s a different animal when you come back to the Premier League and face the likes of Tottenham, who have a great away record,” Forest manager Sean Dyche said.
“We want to take over and instill that winning mentality throughout the team. We had to use the team in Utrecht and we brought them back – we hope – fit and healthy.”
Dyche called his opposite number Thomas Frank a manager “who I know personally and think about a lot”, and the Dane also had reason 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 match,” warned Frank. “Every time I see and analyze his team, I think they are extremely competitive.
“We’re in a good situation – not an exceptional situation, but a good situation. I expect us to go there with confidence and belief and with a good chance of scoring three points.
“I also expect it to be incredibly difficult. It’s nice to share experiences with good friends and colleagues like [Dyche].”
Forest team news against Tottenham
Forest could make another rotation after making nine changes for the 2-1 win in the Netherlands on Thursday, when Igor Jesus scored the winner in the 88th minute.
Defenders Oleksandr Zinchenko and Murillo returned from injury, as did midfielder Douglas Luiz, who played the first half.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels has been an ever-present in the Premier League this season but did not travel to Utrecht as a precaution due to a groin problem. Captain Ryan Yates is dealing with a potentially long-term hamstring injury.
Striker Chris Wood and goalkeeper Angus Gunn (both knees), full-back Ola Aina (hamstring) and striker Taiwo Awoniyi remain injured.
Brennan Johnson is likely to return from injury for Spurs, but Frank suggested his compatriot Dominic Solanke is unlikely to be ready yet despite an Instagram post from the 28-year-old suggesting he is closing in on a return.
“It’s an injury he picked up in July that lasted a while,” Frank said of Solanke’s predicament. “When he trains fully with the team and is available for selection, I will say something.”
Defenders Destiny Udogie and Kota Takai (both hamstrings) and central defender Radu Dragusin (knee) remain out, as do midfielders James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski with knee injuries.
Yves Bissouma is absent due to an internal disciplinary problem.
Nottingham Forest vs Spurs predicts starting line-ups
Nottingham Forest starting XI: Matz Sels, Nikol Millato, Morato, Neco Williams, Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson, Dan Nidoe, Igor Jesus
Tottenham starting lineup: 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 stream online
Kick-off on Sunday will be at 2:00 p.m. GMT (09:00 a.m. ET / 06:00 a.m. PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a one-day subscription, £28 per month for a 12-month subscription or £34.99 per month without a contract.
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Streaming is available on a wide variety of devices via the Sky GO app.
Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Stats
- Dyche has won two of his 17 Premier League matches against Spurs (D5 L10), both against 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, placing him seventh on the list of the division’s most significant managerial defeats alongside Arsène Wenger, who has managed 488 more such matches (828) than Dyche (340).
- Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has made more assists in the opposition’s half than any other player in the Premier League this season (90).
- After losing six consecutive Premier League games against Spurs between 1998 and 2024, Forest completed the league double against them last season.
- Only Wolves (9) have failed to score in more Premier League games than Forest this season (8), although Forest are unbeaten in their last 11 league matches (W6 D5) in which they have scored since a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in April.
- Tottenham have the biggest difference between goals scored (25) and expected goals (15) in the Premier League this season, scoring around 10 goals more than their xG suggests.
- Spurs have failed to win any of their five away games in the Premier League after conceding against Nottingham Forest (D1 L4), with all three of their wins at the City Ground coming in draws.
- Richarlison has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other Tottenham player this season (8-6 goals, 2 assists).
- The Brazilian international has been directly involved in 18 goals (17 goals, 1 assist) in his last 24 league starts with Tottenham.
- Only Crystal Palace have won more away games (5) and points (16) in the Premier League than Tottenham this season (4 wins, 14 points), while Spurs are also the only team to have scored in all their away games so far.
