The Daily Star Ireland
Nottingham Forest, expected to be at the bottom of the standings this season, has exceeded all expectations. Under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo, the team quickly pulled away from the relegation zone and even started dreaming of European qualification. Despite a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Forest bounced back with key wins over Manchester United (2-3) and Aston Villa (2-1). Most recently, they faced Brentford with hopes of securing further points.
Tottenham, meanwhile, is struggling to meet expectations this season as they aim for a Champions League spot. Their inconsistent performances have been evident, and they need to address their issues to secure a top-four finish. After a rough patch of three games without a win, including one draw and two losses, Tottenham responded with a dominant 5-0 win over Southampton.
They will now face Manchester United in the EFL Cup and league leaders Liverpool in the upcoming fixtures. In the Europa League, Tottenham sits 9th but still hopes to qualify directly for the round of 16.
Nottingham Forest continues to feel the absence of long-term injured midfielders Danilo and Sangaré, but key players like New Zealand striker Chris Wood, with 10 goals in the Premier League, remain crucial. Wood may be supported by attacking midfielder Gibbs-White (2 goals and 2 assists), wingers Elanga (1 goal and 2 assists) and Hudson-Odoi (2 goals), and the versatile Anderson (5 assists).
Tottenham, on the other hand, is missing their number one goalkeeper Vicario, key defenders Romero and Van de Ven, as well as the less crucial Davies, Odobert, and Richarlison. Midfielder Bentancur is also suspended. Despite these setbacks, Tottenham’s attack remains formidable, boasting the second-highest scoring record in the league. Players like Son (5 goals and 6 assists), Maddison (7 goals and 4 assists), Kulusevski (4 goals and 3 assists), Johnson (6 goals), and Solanke (5 goals and 2 assists) will continue to drive their offensive potential.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest has been entertaining their fans with high-scoring games, with nine of their last 10 Premier League home fixtures producing at least three goals. Tottenham is also no stranger to thrilling matches, as nine of their last 10 games have seen more than 2.5 goals.
Prediction: Nottingham 2 – 2 Tottenham
