Aston Villa look to begin 2026 by getting their Premier League title challenge back on track against relegation-battling Nottingham Forest.
Victory would see third-placed Villa move back to within three points of leaders, Arsenal, and move up to second until Sunday evening at minimum.
Team News
Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are available for Villa after the pair were suspended in the Villains’ 4-1 defeat at Arsenal.
Amadou Onana however is ruled out after he suffered a hamstring injury during that game.
Pau Torres (knock) or Tyrone Mings could be in contention to return but boss, Unai Emery has refused to name which player is in contention
Evann Guessand (international duty) and Ross Barkley (knee) remain absent.
Forest could again be without Dan Ndoye due to a thigh injury which had sidelined him for the festive fortnight, including their 2-0 home loss to Everton last time out.
Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare (both international duty), Chris Wood (knee), Ryan Yates and Ola Aina (both hamstring) are still ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Villa host Forest at Villa Park on Saturday 3 January at 12:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Villa have won three of their last five meetings against Forest (W3, L2).
- Forest are winless in their last nine league visits to Villa (D3, L6).
- Villa have kept just one clean sheet in their last six home games against Forest (W4, D2), which came in a 2-0 win in April 2023.
- Villa have kept three clean sheets in their last five league matches at home (W5).
- Forest have conceded four goals in their last two away games without reply (L2).
Prediction
Having had an opportunity to move level with Arsenal in the title race, Villa will of been disappointed at their second-half defensive collapse in North London amidst a lot of wasteful finishing so a polished display would be the ideal tonic in this Midlands derby.
Forest meanwhile were simply wasteful despite their attacking dominance against Everton, as small moments of poor marking were where they lost that game, but they will have a chance to end their Villa Park rut if can start on the front foot and capitalise on any nerves in Villa’s defence.
I however do expect Villa to mount the ideal response at home and put the pressure back on Arsenal, because Forest’s defence does seem vulnerable against top opposition.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest
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