Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest: The Preview

Last home game of the season, Champions League football already secured, and the mood around Old Trafford feels a lot more optimistic than it did a few months ago. United go into this one third and already certain of a top-five finish, while Nottingham Forest arrive safe from relegation and on a strong unbeaten run in the league. It doesn’t have the same pressure as Chelsea or Brentford, but there’s still enough around it to make it feel like a proper occasion.

A lot of the conversation will be about Michael Carrick rather than the game itself, and that’s fair enough. He’s about to be announced as the next United manager, which should give the place a pretty positive feel on Sunday. Add in the fact it’s the final home game of the campaign, and Casemiro’s last home game, and it feels like a big afternoon even if nothing is on the line.

Manchester United Team News

The main question is up front. Benjamin Sesko missed the goalless draw at Sunderland with a shin problem after scoring in back-to-back league games before that, so there’s a decent chance Joshua Zirkzee keeps his place if Sesko is not quite ready. Matthijs de Ligt is still out after undergoing successful back surgery, while Lisandro Martinez is back in the mix and feels likely to return.

That probably leaves the rest of the side fairly settled. Bruno Fernandes is still one assist short of the Premier League single-season record after drawing a blank at Sunderland, so there’s a bit of individual jeopardy there as well. It would be very unlike him not to keep forcing the issue.

The talismanic Casemiro is likely to start in his final home game for the club. The legendary Brazilian has been instrumental this seaosn in returning United back to where we belong – in the Champions League.

Nottingham Forest Team News

Forest have a few issues at the back. Murillo is struggling with a hamstring problem, Ola Aina is also a doubt, and Morgan Gibbs-White has been training in a protective mask after that nasty head injury against Chelsea, although he could still be involved.

Even so, they’re coming in with decent momentum. Their recent form has been good, especially away from home, and they’ve caused United problems in this fixture lately as well. They won this game at Old Trafford last season and got a draw in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, so this is not one United can treat like a friendly just because the bigger objectives are already sorted.

The Context

This feels like one of those final home games where the mood could shape the match. There isn’t loads riding on it in pure table terms for United because third is basically there and the Champions League place is already done, so it could turn into a fairly open game.

That usually suits United’s attackers more than a tense one does.

There is one obvious warning sign, though. United haven’t beaten Forest in the league for a while now, and Forest are one of those sides who can make games awkward if they get the first goal. So while this should be a good-vibes afternoon, it still needs navigating properly.

Tactical Focus

The obvious route through this game is still Bruno. Forest will know it, Old Trafford will know it, and United will probably keep leaning into it anyway. If United get enough runners beyond him, whether that’s Mbeumo, Cunha or Sesko if he is fit enough to start, then the chances should come.

The interesting bit is whether Carrick goes full-strength or uses the occasion to look a little bit more at the next layer of the squad. My guess is that he still goes pretty strong for the final home match, then uses the bench if the game opens up or the result allows it.

Predicted XI

Lammens;

Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw;

Casemiro, Mainoo;

Amad, Fernandes, Cunha;

Mbeumo.

Predicted Score

Forest are in better shape than their league position probably suggests, and United don’t have anything on the line.

Even so, the last home game of the season, the Carrick backdrop, and Bruno chasing that assist record all point in one direction.

United 3-1 Forest