Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Ange Postecoglou is already under pressure as Nottingham Forest boss as they return to action after the October international break with the visit of Chelsea to the City Ground.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Universo
Nottingham Forest preview: Frustrated Forest
Due to a fallout, Nottingham Forest parted company with Nuno Espirito Santo a month later and he was replaced by Postecoglou, but the Australian has started really poorly with suggestions that they are already targeting a move for Sean Dyche.
In between the international breaks, Nottingham Forest went on a seven-match winless run of form across all competitions. They most recently suffered a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park a couple of weeks ago.
Chelsea preview: Blues must build
Enzo Maresca and his Chelsea side won the UEFA Europa Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup last season but the Blues have been inconsistent and underwhelming at the start of this season.
Despite that, though, Chelsea have managed to head into this one on the back of a massive victory as they defeated Liverpool by two goals to one at Stamford Bridge, courtesy of a second-half stoppage-time winner scored by Estevao.
Nottingham Forest team news: Triple boost
Under-fire Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Nottingham Forest have been boosted by the likes of Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz all being passed fully fit.
New Zealand international striker Chris Wood is also 'ready to play', according to Postecoglou, with Nigeria international defender Ola Aina the only confirmed absentee for the hosts.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Zinchenko; Yates, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Unavailable: Aina (Injured)
Questionable:
Chelsea team news: Key doubts
Enzo Maresca has had to confirm that Cole Palmer will now be unavailable for the next six weeks but Brazil international forward Joao Pedro has trained after missing out on international duty with the Selecao.
They do have some key doubts for this weekend, though, as Moises Caicedo is now potentially unavailable alongside fellow key starters Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Lavia; Estevao, Santos, Garnacho; Pedro
Unavailable: Colwill (Injured), Badiashile (Injured), Essugo (Injured), Palmer (Injured), Delap (Injured)
Questionable: Caicedo (Injured), Fernandez (Injured), Neto (Injured)
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea prediction
Nottingham Forest have shown some signs to suggest that they are adapting to the culture and the style of football of Postecoglou ahead of this one. They have, though, remained entirely and predictably ineffective as they search for a major stylistic change. They face a Chelsea side that simply require consistency, which hurt them mid-way through last season, and they do remain favourites to pile the pressure on Postecoglou this weekend.
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea tip: Double chance – Chelsea to win or draw
