Nottingham Forest host Aston Villa in a huge Midlands derby in the race for the top-four.
Locked on 25 points apiece in fifth and sixth positions respectively, victory will put Forest or Villa up to fourth ahead of Manchester City’s fixture on Sunday.
Team News
Forest have no fresh injury concerns following their victory at Manchester United, but Alex Moreno is ineligible to play against his parent club – Villa.
Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring) and Danilo (ankle) remain sidelined.
Villa could be without forward, Ollie Watkins after he suffered a knock in their midweek Champions League win at RB Leipzig.
Leon Bailey (hamstring) is a doubt but Jacob Ramsey (hamstring) remains ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Forest host Villa at the City Ground on Saturday 14 December at 5:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Forest have won one of their last 11 Premier League meetings against Villa (W1, D5, L5).
- Villa are winless in their last five Premier League trips to Forest (D4, L1).
- Villa’s Ollie Watkins has scored in two of his last three appearances against Forest.
- Forest have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home games (W3, L1).
- Four of Jhon Duran’s 10 goals for Villa in all competitions this season were scored away from home.
Prediction
Following a clinical victory at Man Utd despite two sloppy goals conceded, Forest now need to bring the same intensity and movement into this game because this is a great chance to put the pressure on Man City in the top-four race.
Villa meanwhile have won their last three games but were certainly made to work for their win at RB Leipzig, which should set them up well because Forest should cause similar issues if can play with similar energy.
Watkins’ injury though does open the door for Duran to potentially show that he can cut the mustard as a starter, but Forest will look to exploit his lack of starting experience so I can see a tough game ending in a point apiece.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa
Result: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa