Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham: Predicted Lineups and Team News

Nottingham Forest welcome Tottenham to the City Ground in a fascinating early-season Premier League clash, with both sides desperate to kick-start their 2026 campaign. Forest come into matchday 3 sitting 15th with 1 point from their opening 2 games, scoring 2 and conceding 3. Tottenham, meanwhile, are bottom of the table in 20th, with 0 points, no goals scored and 5 conceded in their first two fixtures.

Recent head-to-head meetings tilt strongly towards Nottingham Forest: they have won four of the last five league encounters, including back-to-back 3-0 victories in 2025 and a 2-1 away win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2024. With Forest’s comparison indices leading Tottenham in overall strength, attack and defense, and the prediction model giving the hosts a strong “win or draw” edge, this fixture takes on added importance for both managers. With that in mind, predicted lineups and the expected starting lineup choices will be crucial to how this Premier League contest unfolds.

From a betting perspective, the odds are extremely tight. Most bookmakers price Nottingham Forest between 2.34 and 2.62, Tottenham between 2.65 and 2.88, and the draw between 3.06 and 3.50. That translates to implied win probabilities of roughly 38–43% for Forest, 35–38% for Spurs and 28–33% for the draw, underlining just how finely balanced this game is despite Tottenham’s poor early form.

Nottingham Forest Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Forest’s squad situation is relatively stable but not perfect. The injury list confirms that I. Sangaré and N. Savona are ruled out with calf and knee problems respectively, so they will not feature in the matchday squad. Otherwise, there are no additional confirmed absentees, allowing Forest to field a strong core that has already shown flashes of attacking threat this season, even if the league form string of “DL” (draw then loss) underlines some inconsistency.

Tactically, Forest are expected to stick close to the three-at-the-back system they have used in both league fixtures so far, listed as a 3-4-2-1 in recent lineups. The emphasis should again be on a compact defensive block with quick transitions, using the creativity of M. Gibbs-White and the pace of their forwards to exploit Tottenham’s vulnerable back line. With predicted lineups pointing towards continuity in key positions, the manager is likely to trust the same spine that has delivered a respectable attacking output of one goal per game so far.

Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
(GK: M. Sels; DF: O. Diomande, N. Milenković, Morato; MF: N. Williams, O. Aina, N. Domínguez, L. Netz, M. Gibbs-White, C. Hudson-Odoi; FW: C. Wood) (3-4-2-1)

This expected starting lineup balances experience and athleticism. In goal, M. Sels is the logical pick as the senior goalkeeper. The back three of O. Diomande, N. Milenković and Morato offers height, aerial power and solid one‑v‑one defending, key against a Tottenham side still searching for fluency but capable of individual brilliance in the final third.

Out wide, N. Williams and L. Netz are well-suited to operating as aggressive wing-backs, providing width in possession while dropping into a deeper line when Forest defend. In central midfield, O. Aina – who features prominently in the disciplinary stats with multiple cards but also strong duel numbers – and N. Domínguez can form a combative double pivot. Aina’s ability to win duels and carry the ball forward is particularly valuable in transition.

Further forward, M. Gibbs-White is the clear focal point. He ranks among the league’s top assist providers so far, with 1 goal and 1 assist in just 2 appearances, supported by strong underlying numbers in shots, dribbles and key passes. He should be joined by C. Hudson-Odoi as the second advanced midfielder, both drifting between the lines to feed target man C. Wood. Wood’s presence up front gives Forest a direct outlet and a major set-piece threat, complementing the creative work of Gibbs-White in the final third.

Tottenham Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Tottenham’s team news is more concerning. They arrive at the City Ground bottom of the table with a form string of “LL”, having failed to score in either of their opening matches and conceding 5 times. The injury list is significant in attacking areas: D. Kulusevski, W. Odobert and X. Simons are all ruled out with knee injuries, removing three creative or attacking options from the manager’s toolkit. On top of that, J. Maddison is listed as questionable with a knock, which makes his inclusion in any expected lineup uncertain.

These absences heavily influence lineups today from a Spurs perspective. Having used a 4-2-3-1 setup in both league games so far, Tottenham are likely to persist with a similar attacking-minded shape, but with different personnel filling the advanced roles. The manager must find a way to inject goals into a side that currently averages 0.0 goals per game and has failed to break down either opponent this season, while also shoring up a defense that concedes an average of 2.5 goals per match.

Tottenham Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: M. Dúbravka; DF: Pedro Porro, J. van Hecke, M. van de Ven, D. Udogie; MF: R. Bentancur, P. Sarr, C. Gallagher, M. Kudus, Omar Marmoush; FW: D. Solanke

In goal, M. Dúbravka stands out as the senior option and is expected to continue as the last line of defense. The back four should feature Pedro Porro and D. Udogie in the full-back roles, offering width and overlapping runs, with J. van Hecke and M. van de Ven forming a physically imposing central pairing. This unit must improve its concentration, particularly between minutes 61–75 where Tottenham have conceded a high proportion of their goals so far.

In midfield, R. Bentancur and P. Sarr provide energy and ball-winning ability in the double pivot, allowing the more advanced trio to focus on chance creation. C. Gallagher’s work rate and pressing from central areas, combined with the technical quality of M. Kudus and the direct running of Omar Marmoush, should give Tottenham multiple routes into the final third even without Kulusevski and Simons. Up front, D. Solanke is the natural focal point as a central striker, capable of holding the ball up and attacking crosses, and will be key if Spurs are to end their early-season goal drought.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences on both sides could subtly reshape the tactical landscape. Nottingham Forest lose an important midfield anchor in I. Sangaré, which may reduce their ability to dominate central duels and protect the back three, while N. Savona’s knee injury limits depth options. For Tottenham, the cluster of knee injuries to key attacking players severely restricts their creativity and rotation options in the final third, and the uncertainty around J. Maddison only increases the pressure on other playmakers.

Nottingham Forest Absences:

• I. Sangaré — Calf Injury (Missing Fixture)
• N. Savona — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)

Tottenham Absences:

• D. Kulusevski — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• W. Odobert — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• X. Simons — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• J. Maddison — Knock (Questionable)

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

The predicted lineups set up an intriguing stylistic contrast. Nottingham Forest’s three-at-the-back structure with wing-backs should create natural overloads in wide areas against Tottenham’s back four, especially if Pedro Porro and D. Udogie push high and leave space in behind. Forest’s comparison indices highlight a stronger attack and overall profile, and their recent record against Spurs suggests they are comfortable exploiting transitions, with Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi drifting into pockets behind Tottenham’s midfield.

Tottenham’s 4-2-3-1, however, offers numerical superiority in central midfield if their advanced midfielder and wide players tuck inside. The key battle will be between Spurs’ attacking quartet of Gallagher, Kudus, Marmoush and Solanke against Forest’s back three plus double pivot. If Bentancur and Sarr can control the tempo and protect the half-spaces, Tottenham can push their full-backs on and pin back Forest’s wing-backs. But given Spurs’ current attacking struggles and Forest’s strong recent defensive comparison index, the visitors may find it difficult to consistently break down a compact home side, especially away from home where they have already lost 3-0 this season.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Stats suggest Nottingham Forest hold a clear edge coming into this fixture. The prediction model gives Forest and the draw a combined 100% outcome range, with 50% for a home win and 50% for a stalemate, and just 0% for a Tottenham victory. The overall comparison index also heavily favours Forest, 71.3 vs 29.0, while the head-to-head index sits at 80 vs 20 in the hosts’ favour. Tottenham’s form index is extremely poor, with 0% in attack and 0% in overall form over their last two games, and they have yet to score this season.

Given Forest’s solid attacking output, strong recent record against Spurs and home advantage at the City Ground, the most likely scenario is that the hosts avoid defeat, in line with the “double chance: Nottingham Forest or draw” advice. With goals projections in the predictions data pointing away from a high-scoring contest, a tight game with Forest edging it or sharing the points looks the most plausible outcome.

Predicted Outcome: Nottingham Forest 1–0 Tottenham

How to Watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Live on a major sports channel and streaming platform (check local listings).
• UK: Selected Premier League broadcaster and official streaming service.
• USA / North America: Available via leading soccer broadcasters and their apps.
• South America: Shown on regional sports networks with streaming options.
• MENA: Broadcast on major regional sports channels and digital platforms.