Explore My Football Facts' detailed preview for Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 12:30 BST match.
Fixture Information
| Fixture | Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest |
|---|---|
| Competition | Premier League |
| Date | Sunday, 17 May 2026 |
| Kick-off | 12:30 BST |
| Venue | Old Trafford |
Match Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Prediction Stats
Fulltime Result Probability
Both Teams To Score Probability
Over/Under 2.5 Probability
Last 5 Meetings
| League | Date | Match | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 01 Nov 2025 |  Nottingham Forest vs  Manchester United |
2 – 2 | The City Ground |
| Premier League | 01 Apr 2025 | Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United |
1 – 0 | The City Ground |
| Premier League | 07 Dec 2024 | Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest |
2 – 3 | Old Trafford |
| Premier League | 30 Dec 2023 | Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United |
2 – 1 | The City Ground |
| Premier League | 26 Aug 2023 | Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest |
3 – 2 | Old Trafford |
Manchester United come into this one with a solid recent league run, taking three wins and a draw from their last four before the 0-0 at Sunderland. Nottingham Forest have also been in decent form, with wins away at Chelsea and Sunderland and a draw against Newcastle United, so they should not be easy to break down. With no xG data available, the clearest read is from results and recent line-ups, and both sides have shown they can keep games tight. Old Trafford gives Manchester United a slight edge, but Forest’s recent scoring record suggests they can still threaten.
The head-to-head record also points to a competitive match, with Forest unbeaten in the last three meetings and both sides trading wins and draws across the last five. That said, Manchester United’s current home results include wins over Liverpool and Brentford, which supports the case for them edging a close contest. Forest’s predicted 3-4-2-1 should give them enough structure to stay in the game, but Manchester United’s 4-2-3-1 looks better placed to create the more consistent chances. A narrow home win fits the data best.
Form Guide & Team Overview
Manchester United
Manchester United’s recent league form is strong, with three wins and a draw in their last four matches. They beat Liverpool 3-2 at home, Brentford 2-1 at home and Chelsea 1-0 away, before drawing 0-0 with Sunderland away.
Their only defeat in the supplied league run was a 2-1 loss to Leeds United at home. That sequence suggests they have been competitive in most games and have generally been difficult to beat.
Manchester United Last 5 Results
| League | Date | Match | Score | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 9 May 2026 |  Sunderland vs Manchester United |
0 – 0 | D | Stadium of Light |
| Premier League | 3 May 2026 | Manchester United vs  Liverpool |
3 – 2 | W | Old Trafford |
| Premier League | 27 Apr 2026 | Manchester United vs  Brentford |
2 – 1 | W | Old Trafford |
| Premier League | 18 Apr 2026 |  Chelsea vs Manchester United |
0 – 1 | W | Stamford Bridge |
| Premier League | 13 Apr 2026 | Manchester United vs  Leeds United |
1 – 2 | L | Old Trafford |
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest have also put together a useful run in the league, with two wins and two draws in their last five. Their standout results include a 3-1 away win at Chelsea and a 5-0 away win at Sunderland, which show they have been productive going forward.
They also drew 1-1 with Newcastle United at home and 1-1 with Aston Villa at home, while the only defeat in the supplied all-competition run was a 0-4 loss at Aston Villa in the Europa League. Overall, the data points to a side that can score and compete, but one that has not been flawless.
Nottingham Forest Last 5 Results
| League | Date | Match | Score | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 10 May 2026 | Nottingham Forest vs  Newcastle United |
1 – 1 | D | The City Ground |
| Premier League | 4 May 2026 | Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest |
1 – 3 | W | Stamford Bridge |
| Premier League | 24 Apr 2026 | Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest |
0 – 5 | W | Stadium of Light |
| Premier League | 19 Apr 2026 | Nottingham Forest vs  Burnley |
4 – 1 | W | The City Ground |
| Premier League | 12 Apr 2026 | Nottingham Forest vs  Aston Villa |
1 – 1 | D | The City Ground |
Team News & Injury Report
Manchester United
- No injuries have been reported for the current season.
Nottingham Forest
- Zach Abbott (Concussion)
Lineups & Tactical Setup
Manchester United (4-2-3-1)
Predicted lineup: Senne Lammens (Goalkeeper), Harry Maguire (Defender), Lisandro Martínez (Defender), Luke Shaw (Defender), Noussair Mazraoui (Defender), Amad Diallo (Midfielder), Bruno Fernandes (Midfielder), Kobbie Mainoo (Midfielder), Mason Mount (Midfielder), Matheus Cunha (Midfielder), Joshua Zirkzee (Attacker)
Manchester United’s predicted 4-2-3-1 should give them a stable base in midfield, with the two deeper players helping them control transitions. The shape also leaves room for the attacking midfield line to support Joshua Zirkzee and create chances between Forest’s defensive and midfield lines.
Nottingham Forest (3-4-2-1)
Predicted lineup: Matz Sels (Goalkeeper), Jair Cunha (Defender), Morato (Defender), Nikola Milenković (Defender), Elliot Anderson (Midfielder), Luca Netz (Midfielder), Neco Williams (Midfielder), Nicolás Domínguez (Midfielder), Dilane Bakwa (Attacker), Igor Jesus (Attacker), Taiwo Awoniyi (Attacker)
Nottingham Forest’s predicted 3-4-2-1 should provide defensive cover through the back three while still allowing the wing-backs to support attacks. With two players operating behind the front striker, they can look to connect quickly into the final third and make use of Dilane Bakwa.
Key Battles & Players to Watch
| Manchester United | Nottingham Forest | Key Battle Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | Nottingham Forest | Joshua Zirkzee against Jair Cunha could be important because it pits United’s central forward against one of Forest’s key defenders. |
| Manchester United | Nottingham Forest | Amad Diallo against Elliot Anderson may shape the midfield-to-attacking transition battle on United’s right side. |
| Manchester United | Nottingham Forest | Joshua Zirkzee is key for Manchester United because he is the central reference point in the predicted attack and can turn United’s possession into chances. |
| Manchester United | Nottingham Forest | Dilane Bakwa is key for Nottingham Forest because he offers a direct attacking outlet in the predicted front line and has been part of their recent positive results. |
FAQs
For the best Premier League outright predictions, explore our guide.
Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.
