EPL Round 3, Nottm Forest vs Man Utd: Garnacho’s Left Flank Key to Victory in Tactical Shift sans Mason Mount – Pre-match Analysis
Analyzing MU vs Nottingham Forest Form
Following their narrow victory against Wolves in the opening match of the 2023/24 Premier League season, Manchester United suffered a 0-2 defeat in their away fixture against Tottenham. This outcome wasn’t entirely surprising, considering that Tottenham is a formidable opponent. What’s noteworthy, however, is that MU’s midfield operated ineffectively during the match against Spurs.
To address this concern, Coach Erik Ten Hag needs to make personnel adjustments. He has an opportunity to do so as the absence of newcomer Mason Mount from the lineup allows room for experimentation. Fortunately for Ten Hag, experimenting might not entail significant risks, given that Nottingham Forest, their upcoming opponent, is generally considered mid-tier.
Though Nottingham Forest recently secured a 2-1 victory against newly promoted Sheffield United, their confidence might not be high for their visit to MU’s fortress. Prior to their win against Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest endured a winless streak of 5 matches. During these 5 matches, they scored just 1 goal, conceded 10 times, and suffered 4 losses.
In terms of head-to-head records, history isn’t in favor of Nottingham Forest. Out of the previous 82 encounters, they’ve won only 24 times compared to MU’s 41 victories. The remaining 17 matches ended in draws.
Latest Squad Updates for MU vs Nottingham Forest
Through their official website, MU confirmed that new signing Mason Mount is injured and will miss the upcoming two matches. Mount’s absence for about a month might not be catastrophic for MU, as his recent performances in the last two rounds have been lackluster. Alongside Mount, MU’s list of players facing health issues includes Mainoo, Hojlund, Maguire, Malacia, Diallo, and Heaton.
On the Nottingham Forest side, four players including Felipe, Richards, Hennessey, and Aina are still recovering from injuries, potentially leading to their absence.
Expected Lineups for MU vs Nottingham Forest
MU (4-2-3-1): Onana, Varane, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Martínez, Casemiro, Fernandes, Eriksen, Rashford, Antony, Garnacho Nottingham Forest (3-4-3): Turner, Aurier, Boly, McKenna, Worrall, Williams, Mangala, Gibbs-White, Danilo, Awoniyi, Johnson
Matchday 3 EPL, Nottm Forest vs Man Utd: Garnacho’s Left Flank Key to Victory in Tactical Shift sans Mason Mount – Pre-match Analysis
MU vs Nottingham Forest Match Odds
Full-time Goals: MU’s recent three matches have seen a maximum of 2 goals. Considering this trend alongside Nottingham Forest’s 5 out of 7 recent matches with under goals, it’s reasonable to anticipate a low-scoring match.
Home Team Asian Handicap: MU has struggled recently, losing the Asian Handicap in 6 out of 7 recent matches. Conversely, Nottingham Forest has been profitable for bettors, securing wins in their last three matches. Given this trend, placing trust in the home team could be risky.
Total Corners: MU’s last three matches have consistently reached 11 corners. A similar pattern is observed in Nottingham Forest’s recent four matches with odds. With the corner odds set at 10.5, betting on a higher corner count seems sensible.
Soccer Expert’s Prediction for MU vs Nottingham Forest
According to Andrew Delaney of Sportmole, Manchester United desperately needs a win to regain fan confidence after their defeat against Tottenham. Facing a manageable opponent like Nottingham Forest, the odds are high that the home team will achieve victory.
Key Stats for MU vs Nottingham Forest
In their recent 7 meetings, Nottingham Forest managed to breach MU’s defense only once. Scoring against MU seems to be a challenging feat for them.
History doesn’t favor Nottingham Forest, often falling victim to Manchester United’s dominance. Given their current poor form and playing away, avoiding a disappointing outcome will be tough.
Prediction: 1-0
What’s your precise score prediction?
