Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Predictions & Match Preview
On Sunday, the Premier League’s 18th day of the 2022/2023 season will come to a close with a football game between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.
Nottingham Forest, who are currently in the relegation zone, will have a difficult task against Chelsea, as they will be without Niakhate, Biancone, Richards, and Kouyate due to injuries, as well as Jesse Lingard who was injured in their last league match.
Chelsea, on the other hand, had an easy win over Bournemouth in their last match and are close to securing a Europa League spot.
This will be a good opportunity for Chelsea to start a winning streak, and it is predicted that Kai Havertz and the rest of the team will perform well.
Reece James is uncertain to play due to a knee injury, but Kovacic and Ziyech are available after being rested in the last league match.
Nottingham Forest will be able to include Dean Henderson in their starting lineup after the loanee goalkeeper was unable to play against his parent club Manchester United in their previous match. Wayne Hennessey is expected to be on the substitutes’ bench as a result.
However, the team continues to have several injured players, including Morgan Gibbs-White, who is expected to be out for a while with a muscle injury, and Jesse Lingard, who is questionable due to discomfort in his hamstring that was visibly taped during the game at Old Trafford.
Chiekhou Kouyate, Moussa Niakhate, Omar Richards, and Giulian Biancone are also out due to hamstring and leg injuries, respectively.
Serge Aurier, who had a minor calf injury, was able to start against Manchester United, but Neco Williams may replace him at right-back. Sam Surridge or Emmanuel Dennis may also start in place of Lingard if the team sticks with a 4-3-3 formation.
Chelsea, on the other hand, will be without Armando Broja, N’Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek due to injuries, with Broja expected to miss the rest of the season.
Reece James, who had a knee injury and was unable to play in the World Cup, was able to start in their previous match but had to be substituted at half-time due to the same injury and is now expected to be out for about a month. Captain Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to take James’ place at right-back.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was able to start in goal despite a foot injury and is expected to keep his spot over Edouard Mendy. Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech, who had additional time off following their participation in the World Cup with Croatia and Morocco, respectively, may be included in the matchday squad but are unlikely to start.
Cobham chronicles: 2023 prep! ???? pic.twitter.com/m39XX5lhJv
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 31, 2022
There may also be other changes to the starting lineup, with Conor Gallagher potentially replacing Denis Zakaria in central midfield and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang possibly starting over Havertz, Raheem Sterling, or Christian Pulisic.
