Aiming to end their home campaign on a high, Manchester United welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford in a Premier League clash that could still shape the final top-four order.
United arrive unbeaten in four league matches and already assured of Champions League football, but Michael Carrick’s side will still be eager to respond after their frustrating goalless draw against Sunderland ended a 23-match Premier League scoring streak.
Bruno Fernandes remains central to everything the Red Devils create, and the Portuguese playmaker is now just one assist away from matching the Premier League’s all-time single-season assist record.
Forest, meanwhile, are one of the division’s form teams. Vitor Pereira’s men are unbeaten in eight league games and have looked especially dangerous away from home, winning their last three Premier League road fixtures by an aggregate score of 11-1.
Their confidence will also be boosted by the fact they are unbeaten in the last three meetings with United, including last season’s 3-2 win at Old Trafford.
The hosts still look stronger on paper, especially with Forest battling defensive injuries. United are expected to be without Matthijs de Ligt again, while Benjamin Sesko faces a late fitness test after missing the Sunderland draw. Joshua Zirkzee should continue through the middle if Sesko is unavailable.
Forest have their own concerns, with Murillo and Ola Aina both doubtful. Morgan Gibbs-White could still feature despite recently suffering a head injury, while Dan Ndoye and Ibrahim Sangare are pushing for returns.
Carrick has quickly restored balance and attacking confidence at United, and Old Trafford has remained a difficult venue in final home fixtures over the years. Even though Forest are in excellent form, their stretched defence against Fernandes, Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo could prove costly.
Expected lineups
Manchester United:
Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Zirkzee
Nottingham Forest:
Sels; Cunha, Milenkovic, Morato; Williams, Yates, Anderson, Netz; Hutchinson, Jesus, Wood
Prediction
Manchester United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
