Nottingham Forest-Chelsea is a match for the 18th day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 5:30pm: predictions
Havertz and Mount, two World Cup veterans, settled newly-promoted Bournemouth (2-0) in just over 20 minutes, allowing Chelsea to return to winning ways (and smiles) after three defeats in a row – four, if we include the friendly loss to Aston Villa – between the Premier League and League Cup.
A healthy victory for the Blues and, above all, for coach Graham Potter, who has also been in the dock because of the worrying drop that the Londoners had at the turn of October and November. Starting with that resounding and inexplicable 4-1 defeat at the Brighton ground, a team that until last September was coached by the English coach himself. Fortunately for Chelsea, Tottenham did not go beyond a dramatic draw with Brentford on Boxing Day: this means that Azpilicueta and his teammates have nibbled two points from fourth-placed Spurs, now +6 and with a game to spare. Finishing in the top four seems to be the most realistic goal, given the excessive distance from Arsenal in the lead.
Chelsea and that travelling sickness
In order to continue their comeback, Chelsea will have to do better away from home: the Blues have come away empty-handed in their last three games away from Stamford Bridge, conceding seven goals. This is a trend that must be reversed as soon as possible, given that three of their next four games will be away from home.
Some Nottingham Forest players
Against Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, Potter will have to do without outfielder James, who has just returned from the injury that had already forced him to miss the World Cup. As for the Garibaldi Reds, theirs was a bittersweet restart: after the 4-1 success in the League Cup against Blackburn, came the asphalting at Old Trafford against Manchester United. It was a 3-0 defeat that left no chance of appeal and prevented Steve Cooper’s side from moving away from the red zone.
The Prediction
Chelsea returned to success against Bournemouth, regaining a modicum of confidence after some worrying defeats. The Blues, however, did not shine and in our opinion could struggle in Nottingham, on a pitch that has already reaped excellent victims such as Liverpool and Tottenham. We assume a narrow victory for the Londoners in a match that looks unlikely to be spectacular.
The likely line-ups for Nottingham Forest-Chelsea
- NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-3-3): Henderson; Williams, Worrall, Boly, Renan Lodi; Yates, Freuler, Mangala; Johnson, Awoniyi, Dennis.
- CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, Cucurella; Gallagher, Jorginho, Mount; Sterling, Havertz, Pulisic.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-1
