Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest: prediction, H2H and probable lineups — 17.05.2026
One of the highlight fixtures of matchday 37 in the English Premier League will take place this Sunday at Old Trafford in Manchester, where Manchester United host Nottingham Forest. Both teams have already shed the main pressure of the competition, so the match could easily unfold in an attacking scenario: the hosts are motivated by personal records and the pride of playing at home, while the visitors are eager to end a turbulent season on a high note.
Match preview
Manchester United come into this match in good spirits, even though Michael Carrick’s side saw their winning streak halted by a goalless draw at Sunderland. Prior to that, the Red Devils claimed impressive wins against three tough opponents — Chelsea (1-0), Brentford (2-1), and Liverpool (3-2) — a strong argument in favour of United’s current stability.
United also have some personal intrigue: Casemiro is set to play his last home match for the club, while Bruno Fernandes is chasing a historic assists record. Lisandro Martinez’s return from suspension will bolster the defence, but the absence of Matthijs de Ligt and fitness concerns around Benjamin Šeško leave Carrick with limited options in central defence and attack.
Nottingham Forest have officially secured their Premier League status, but Vítor Pereira’s squad are in mixed spirits. After a long unbeaten run, the Tricky Trees suffered a heavy defeat to Aston Villa in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final, and then salvaged a point against Newcastle thanks to a late goal from Elliot Anderson — 1-1.
The main headache for the visitors is a packed injury list, forcing Pereira to constantly juggle between rotation and squad quality. However, the potential returns of Zak Abbott, Ibrahim Sangaré, Dan Ndoye, and Morgan Gibbs-White could add much-needed depth — especially Gibbs-White, who was in elite form before his facial injury, notching four goals and two assists in three recent Premier League matches.
Probable lineups
- Manchester United: Lammens, Shaw, Martinez, Maguire, Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo, Zirkzee.
- Nottingham Forest: Sels, Williams, Milenković, Paula, Netz, Anderson, Domínguez, Jesus, Bakwa, Gibbs-White, Awoniyi.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches, winning three and drawing once against Sunderland.
- Nottingham Forest have lost to United only once in their last five meetings across all competitions.
- Ten out of the last twelve Premier League clashes between these teams have seen over 2.5 goals scored.
Prediction
Manchester United look like the more cohesive and fresher side, with home advantage, Fernandes’ motivation, and the emotional backdrop of Casemiro’s possible farewell providing the hosts with an extra boost. Forest are dangerous in transition and have shown they no longer fear Old Trafford, but injuries and the psychological blow from their recent European exit could take a toll. Expect an open contest with chances at both ends, but United’s individual quality in the final third should prove decisive.
