Premier League
Nottingham Forest are currently in the relegation zone, making this match crucial for them as they desperately need points, especially when playing at home. They haven’t been in good form, but have been fairly efficient in scoring, having scored at least one goal in their last five matches, except for their last game against Aston Villa. They have also scored in 13 consecutive league matches at home. This time, they have an additional motivation as they have suffered three defeats against their upcoming opponent this season (in the league and League Cup), without scoring a single goal.
On the other hand, Manchester United are fighting for a top-four spot in the Premier League, but it won’t be easy for them. They will be without the services of Marcus Rashford (their top scorer), Luke Shaw (their first-choice left back), as well as their regular center-back pairing of Varane and Maguire. Their positions will be filled by Diogo Dalot on the left flank, while Lindelof and Mengi will be at the heart of defense. This is a significant handicap for them, a drastic drop in defensive quality, and most people are aware of the mistakes and poor decisions that Harry Maguire can make. Furthermore, Manchester United have been vulnerable away from home this season, having conceded 29 goals in 14 away matches, which is quite high.
Head to Head (h2h)
Expected lineups:
Nottingham Forest (4-3-2-1) – K. Navas – N. Williams, J. Worrall, Felipe, H. Toffolo – R. Freuler, Danilo, O. Mangala – M. Gibbs-White, B. Johnson – E. Dennis
Manchester United (4-2-3-1) – D. De Gea – D. Dalot, H. Maguire, V. Lindelof, T. Malacia – Fred, Casemiro – J. Sancho, B. Fernandes, Antony – A. Martial
Tip suggestion – Both teams to score @1.85.
West Ham United has managed to collect six points in the last three rounds, which has given them some breathing space. However, they are still just three points away from the dangerous zone, and they face a tough battle to avoid relegation until the end of the season. They have struggled with their attack, having scored only 27 goals, which puts them among the least efficient teams in the league. On Thursday evening, they had their first match of the quarter-finals of the Conference League against Gent in Belgium, which means they had less time to prepare for the upcoming duel against their city rivals.
On the other hand, Arsenal is currently the leader of the Premier League, but with only a three-point advantage over Manchester City, they are aware of the huge battle ahead for the title. They have a tough schedule until the end of the season, including an away game against Manchester City, and they are obligated to maintain their current points advantage. They are the best away team in the league, with 11 wins in 15 games played, averaging two goals per match. They are undoubtedly the favorites and are expected to go for the win. They have been highly effective in attack, but have had some defensive issues lately, especially after the absence of two important defenders – T. Tomiyasu and W. Saliba.
Head to Head (h2h)
Expected line-ups:
West Ham United (4-2-3-1) – L. Fabianski – T. Kehrer, A. Ogbonna, K. Zouma, A. Cresswell – D. Rice, T. Soucek – J. Bowen, P. Fornals, S. Benrahma – M. Antonio
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) – A. Ramsdale – B. White, R. Holding, Gabriel, K. Tierney – H. Xhaka, T. Partey – B. Saka, M. Odegaard, G. Martinelli – G. Jesus
