Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Team News & Prediction

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A rivalry that has developed off the pitch now gets back onto the pitch once again as Crystal Palace welcome Nottingham Forest to Selhurst Park in Croydon.

Kick-off date/time: 11 October 2026 at 2:00 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – DirecTV Stream

Crystal Palace preview: Steady start for Sage

Following the departure of triple trophy winning coach Oliver Glasner to Nottingham Forest over the summer, Crystal Palace poached Pierre Sage from Lens with the Frenchman having challenged Paris Saint-Germain for the Ligue 1 title last season.

Sage has started relatively steadily, albeit with three defeats in five Premier League games. Those defeats did, though, come against Everton away from home in their opener before losses to Manchester City and then with ten man against Ipswich Town.

Nottingham Forest preview: Glasner in at Forest

Nottingham Forest started the season slowly with a defeat to Leeds United in their opener but draws against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur before a victory against Aston Villa gave cause for some renewed optimism.

However, Glasner’s Forest went into the international break on the back of a 1-0 defeat to previously pointless midlands rivals Coventry City at the City Ground due to a second half winner scored by Wales international Jay Dasilva.

Crystal Palace team news: Disasi still suspended

Having been the man sent off against Ipswich last month, Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi is still missing through suspension for the hosts with Chadi Riad also sidelined for The Eagles.

There are a few injury issues to deal with, too, with Dean Henderson and Jean-Philippe Mateta working their way back to full fitness after missing international duty for England and France, respectively.

Further details will appear here following pre-match press conferences…

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Mingueza, Richards, Canvot; Khalaili, Timber, Wharton, Mitchell; Kamada, Pino; Mateta

Unavailable: Riad (Injured), Disasi (Suspended)

Questionable: Henderson (Injured), Tomiyasu (Injured), Lerma (Injured), Mateta (Injured)

Nottingham Forest team news: Milenkovic injury

Nikola Milenkovic missed their most recent outing against Coventry before being unavailable to go away with Serbia on international duty and he is now a doubt again alongside Nicolo Savona.

Ousmane Diomande had been behind Jair Cunha in the pecking-order for Glasner’s preferred back three but the Ivorian centre-back may well start again if Milenkovic remains sidelined.

Further details will appear here following pre-match press conferences…

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Sels; Jair, Diomande, Murillo; Munoz, Schlager, McAtee, Williams; Ndoye, Gibbs-White; Delap

Unavailable: 

Questionable: Milenkovic (Injured), Savona (Injured)

Key stats

• Palace have never beaten Forest in 12 Premier League meetings (D8 L4). 
• Five of the six Premier League meetings at Selhurst Park have been drawn. Forest's only win there was 2-1 in April 1995. 
• The last three meetings all finished 1-1. 
• The 12 meetings have produced only 20 goals (1.67 per game). Forest have kept four clean sheets against Palace, Palace only one against Forest. 
• Palace have lost their last three home Premier League games (1-2 v Arsenal, 1-4 v Manchester City, 2-3 v Ipswich) and are winless in five at home. Their last home win was 2-1 against Newcastle on 12 April 2026. 
• Palace have conceded in each of their last four home games; their last home clean sheet was 0-0 against West Ham on 20 April 2026. 
• Coming into Matchweek 6, Palace have conceded 11 goals, joint-second most in the division, and their matches have averaged 3.40 goals. Their 0-0 at Leeds last time out was their first clean sheet of the season. 
• Palace kept 12 clean sheets last season, the third-most in the division. 
• Forest have failed to score in each of their last three home Premier League games but have scored in 12 consecutive away games, a run dating back to 3 January 2026. 
• Forest are unbeaten away this season: 2-2 at Liverpool and 2-1 at Aston Villa. 
• Coming into Matchweek 6, Forest's matches have averaged just 1.80 goals, joint-lowest in the division (with Everton). 
• Palace have won 34 of their 113 Premier League games played on a Sunday (30.1%). 

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest prediction

Crystal Palace have managed to hammer Lech Poznan in the UEFA Europa League, win away at Fulham and draw away at Leeds United as well as those fairly forgivable defeats in the first section of the campaign. They will believe there is reason to be positive under Sage, and the reception for the returning Glasner will be intriguing. What is fairly clear is a similar style of football of both coaches with a preference for counter-attacking and that may well lead to quite a dull affair for the neutral in South London.

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest tip: Under 2.5 goals