Nottingham Forest v Chelsea predictions: Entertaining clash on the cards

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Nottingham Forest v Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League, 4.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals
2pts 6-4 general

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Team news

Nottingham Forest
Dean Henderson will return after missing the game against Manchester United due to his loan deal. Morgan Gibbs-White is expected to miss out, Jessie Lingard is a doubt while Giulian Biancone, Omar Richards, Cheikhou Kouyate and Moussa Niakhate remain out.

Chelsea
Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech are back from international duty. Armando Broja, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, N'Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ben Chilwell are all out. Edouard Mendy is a doubt.

Match preview

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest will be hoping the New Year brings a turnaround in fortunes as both sides are struggling to live up to their own expectations in the 2022-23 season.

The Blues had lost four of their last five games in all competitions before securing a 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday, while Nottingham Forest entered 2023 in the relegation zone after losing nine of their opening 16 Premier League games.

Both sides will hope the January transfer window can bring fresh faces and new impetus as they look to turn around their campaigns.

However, without any of those likely additions in this game, Steve Cooper and Graham Potter will have to make do with what they have.

Potter has struggled to nail down his best system and attacking combinations in his short time as Chelsea boss, and he may not be able to replicate the constant tactical shapeshifting that was his calling card at Brighton.

The 47-year-old opted for a four-man defence against the Cherries and he may persist with that system against teams who his side are expected to dominate, such as Nottingham Forest.

The Chelsea manager will have to deal with the injuries that have blighted his squad though, with Reece James the latest to suffer a setback on his return.

There is sufficient quality in this Blues squad that they should be able to weather the storm in terms of player availability.

Visiting Nottingham Forest at the City Ground is a potentially tricky task, however. Steve Cooper’s side have taken 11 of their 13 points at home and registered all three of their wins on the banks of the Trent.

Forest were a touch unlucky not to get at least a goal on their visit to Old Trafford in the week, having one ruled out for offside by VAR, and they should pose a sterner test back on home soil.

The Tricky Trees have scored in all but one of their nine home games in all competitions and they are fancied to get on the scoresheet once again here.

Chelsea should have the quality to also find their way on to the scoresheet and this should be a fairly high-scoring affair between two teams who can suffer from defensive lapses.

Take both teams to score and three or more goals to land in an entertaining clash to see off the New Year’s hangover.