Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Predicted Lineups: Team News Ahead of Premier League Clash

Nottingham Forest welcome Tottenham to the City Ground in Premier League Regular Season - 3, with both sides looking to correct slow starts to the 2026 campaign. Forest sit 15th with 1 point from their opening 2 matches, scoring 2 and conceding 3, while Tottenham are bottom in 20th, pointless after 2 defeats with a worrying 0 goals scored and 5 conceded. With the table already beginning to take shape, this is an early-season six-pointer between two sides desperate to climb away from the bottom.

Forest’s recent league form reads “DL”, and Tottenham’s “LL”, underlining how both teams come into this fixture under pressure. However, the comparison indices and recent head-to-head record tilt the balance slightly towards the hosts, and that is reflected in the predicted lineups and tactical expectations. With no official starting lineup confirmed yet, this preview focuses on analytically derived predicted lineups, squad availability, and how the expected starting XIs could shape the contest.

Historically, this fixture has swung back and forth, but in recent seasons Nottingham Forest have been strong in this matchup, especially at the City Ground. With the prediction models giving Forest a strong chance of avoiding defeat and the betting markets pricing this as a near pick’em, the fine margins in selection, injuries, and tactical tweaks will be crucial. That makes the predicted lineups and team news particularly important for anyone assessing this clash.

Nottingham Forest Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Forest come into this game with a couple of notable absentees in midfield. I. Sangaré is ruled out with a calf injury, while N. Savona also misses out with a knee injury. Both are listed as missing the fixture, which removes two central options from the manager’s pool and slightly reduces flexibility in the middle of the pitch. Aside from these issues, there are no other reported significant absences, giving Forest a relatively stable platform to pick from.

Their league form string “DL” reflects a mixed start: a draw away from home and a defeat at the City Ground, with 2 goals scored and 3 conceded overall. Even so, the team comparison indices are very favourable to Forest, and their most-used tactical shape so far has been a three-at-the-back system (recorded as 3-4-2-1). That suggests an expected emphasis on a compact defensive block with aggressive wing-backs and creative support behind a central striker. With key contributors like M. Gibbs-White and O. Aina already prominent in the early data, they are highly likely to feature in the expected lineup.

Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
(GK) M. Sels
(DF) O. Aina, N. Milenković, Morato, Murillo, L. Netz, N. Williams
(MF) N. Domínguez, M. Gibbs-White, C. Hudson-Odoi
(FW) C. Wood

This predicted starting lineup leans heavily on Forest’s early-season core and their recorded preference for a back-three-based system. In goal, M. Sels is the most established option among several goalkeepers in the squad and is the logical choice for the starting lineup. The defensive unit is built around a strong group of centre-backs: N. Milenković, Morato, and Murillo provide aerial power and physicality, while full-back or wing-back options O. Aina, L. Netz, and N. Williams offer width and running power on the flanks.

In midfield, N. Domínguez gives Forest a stabilising presence in the centre, especially important with I. Sangaré and N. Savona missing. Ahead of him, M. Gibbs-White is already one of the standout performers in the Premier League this season from a creative standpoint. He has 1 goal and 1 assist in 2 appearances, with an average rating of 7.35, 4 shots attempted, and 59 completed passes at 83% accuracy. His dribbling output (8 attempts, 4 successful) and key passes underline his importance as the main attacking conduit. C. Hudson-Odoi adds another line-breaking threat from midfield areas or the half-spaces, while C. Wood leads the line as the focal point, using his experience and physical presence to occupy Tottenham’s centre-backs and bring the attacking midfielders into play.

Tottenham Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Tottenham’s squad situation is more complicated. They are without several attacking and creative players: D. Kulusevski, W. Odobert, and X. Simons are all ruled out with knee injuries, which removes a significant amount of width and flair from their options. In addition, J. Maddison is listed as questionable with a knock, creating uncertainty around their main playmaker’s availability. These issues go some way to explaining their attacking struggles so far, with 0 goals scored in 2 league matches and a “LL” form line.

Their typical tactical setup has been an attacking-minded shape recorded as 4-2-3-1, but the absence of key wide forwards and the potential doubt over Maddison may force some adjustments in the lineups today. Still, Tottenham have depth in midfield and attack, with players like M. Kudus, Richarlison, Omar Marmoush, D. Solanke, and Sávio all present in the squad. The challenge for the manager is to find a balanced expected starting lineup that restores some attacking threat without exposing an already vulnerable defence that has conceded 5 goals in 2 games.

Tottenham Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
(GK) M. Dúbravka
(DF) Pedro Porro, K. Danso, M. van de Ven, D. Udogie
(MF) R. Bentancur, P. Sarr, M. Kudus, C. Gallagher, J. Maddison
(FW) Richarlison

In goal, M. Dúbravka is the most experienced option in a three-man goalkeeping group and is the natural favourite for the starting lineup. At the back, Tottenham are expected to field a strong defensive line: Pedro Porro provides attacking thrust from the right, D. Udogie offers similar energy on the left, while K. Danso and M. van de Ven give pace and strength in central areas. This back line will need to be far more compact than in the opening two games, where Tottenham conceded 5 times and allowed goals in multiple time ranges.

The midfield and attacking unit in this predicted lineup is built to restore creativity and goal threat. R. Bentancur and P. Sarr form a double pivot with energy and ball-winning capacity, allowing the more advanced trio to push higher. M. Kudus and C. Gallagher are included as high-impact midfielders who can both press and contribute in the final third, while J. Maddison, if he is passed fit despite his knock, remains the natural central creator behind the striker. Up front, Richarlison is the leading candidate to start as the central forward, with alternatives like Omar Marmoush, D. Solanke, Sávio, and M. Tel also in the squad but likely competing for minutes off the bench given this predicted shape.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

The absences on both sides have a direct impact on how this match is likely to unfold. Forest’s missing midfielders reduce their rotation options in the centre but do not fundamentally alter their structure. Tottenham, by contrast, are without several natural wide and creative players, which could limit their ability to stretch the game and create clear chances, especially given their current goal drought.

Nottingham Forest Absences:

• I. Sangaré — Calf Injury (Missing Fixture)
• N. Savona — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)

Tottenham Absences:

• D. Kulusevski — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• W. Odobert — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• X. Simons — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• J. Maddison — Knock (Questionable)

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

On current evidence, Forest are likely to approach this game with a compact defensive block and a strong emphasis on transitions. Their comparison indices are heavily in their favour: the overall comparison index reads 71.3 for Forest versus 29.0 for Tottenham, with Forest leading 100 vs 0 in the form index and 100 vs 0 in the attack index. That suggests Forest have been far more efficient in turning their play into chances and goals, despite modest raw numbers. With M. Gibbs-White operating between the lines and wing-backs like O. Aina and L. Netz pushing on, Forest can overload the half-spaces and target the channels either side of Tottenham’s centre-backs.

Tottenham, by contrast, must find a way to impose their attacking-minded shape without leaving themselves exposed. Their defensive index (38 versus Forest’s 63) underlines that they have been second-best at the back so far, and the goals-against profile shows they have conceded in all key periods of matches. The predicted double pivot of R. Bentancur and P. Sarr will be vital in protecting the back line and dealing with Forest’s counters, while the advanced midfielders – especially M. Kudus and potentially J. Maddison – must connect with Richarlison quickly to avoid sterile possession. Key matchups will include Gibbs-White drifting into spaces around Bentancur and Sarr, and the battle on the flanks where Forest’s wide defenders test Pedro Porro and D. Udogie both defensively and in transition.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Stats suggest this is tilted slightly towards Nottingham Forest avoiding defeat rather than a clear home win. The prediction model lists Forest as the “winner” in a win-or-draw sense, with the advice explicitly favouring a double chance on Nottingham Forest or draw. The outcome probabilities are unusual: 50% for a Forest win, 50% for a draw, and 0% for a Tottenham victory, which underlines just how little faith the model currently has in Spurs given their form and absentees.

The goals projection is conservative, with the home goals field marked against a low threshold, and Tottenham yet to score this season. Given Forest’s slight edge in form, stronger comparison indices, and home advantage, coupled with Tottenham’s attacking injuries, a tight, low-scoring contest is the most plausible scenario. With no explicit goal numbers provided for each side, the safest alignment with the prediction direction is to back Forest to edge it by a single goal.

Predicted Outcome: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham

How to Watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: To be confirmed by local broadcasters
• UK: To be confirmed by domestic rights holders
• USA / North America: To be confirmed by regional sports networks and streaming platforms
• South America: To be confirmed by continental sports broadcasters
• MENA: To be confirmed by regional pay-TV and streaming providers