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Nottingham Forest FC vs Southampton FC, English Premier League 2024-25, Today Match Prediction

City Ground, Nottingham

Saints' Away Woes Continue?

  • Since their comeback to EPL, Nottingham Forest have gone 3-0 against Southampton.
  • At home, Nottingham Forest are currently on a four match unbeaten run (3 wins, 1 draw).
  • Southampton are winless in their last away games and average 0.6 goals per game.

Nottingham Forest to Win (3-1)

Tournament: English Premier League 2024-25 | Venue: City Ground, Nottingham

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After a thrilling, high-octane clash with Liverpool that ended in a 1-1 draw, Nottingham Forest will look to keep their momentum as they welcome bottom-placed Southampton to the City Ground on Sunday, January 18. It’s a chance for Forest to assert their dominance, but in football, no game is ever a walk in the park.

Meanwhile, their opponents, still reeling from a late 3-1 collapse against Manchester United, will be eager for redemption. Having already fallen 1-0 to Nottingham earlier this season, the Saints face an uphill battle to turn their fortunes around at the City Ground.

Southampton faces a daunting challenge as they take on one of the Premier League's most in-form and solid teams. To make matters worse, the Saints' away record is a troubling statistic, with no wins in their last 18 league matches (D4, L14). This dismal run is the longest for any team since Aston Villa's 21-game streak in 2019, adding significant pressure as they aim to break their road curse. 

Nottingham Forest has proven to be a tough opponent for Southampton, losing just once in their last 12 meetings. To make matters even more daunting, Forest defeated the Saints in their previous encounter this season, further solidifying their psychological advantage heading into this matchup.

Current Standings: With 41 points (12 wins, 5 draws & 4 losses), Nottingham is currently placed 3rd in the league standings, while Southampton sits at the bottom of the table with just 6 points (1 win, 3 draws, and 17 defeats).  

Head-to-Head Record: In 13 matches that have been played between the teams, Forest holds an 8-2 win-loss record over Southampton. 

Nottingham Forest FC Preview

Nottingham Forest have proven to be a thorn in Liverpool’s side this season. After shocking the Reds with a 1-0 victory earlier in the campaign, they struck again by earning a hard-fought draw in the latest clash, taking points from Liverpool for the second time this season. That said, the Tricky Trees will be disappointed, as the draw denied them a chance to achieve a rare milestone in their club's history—winning seven consecutive games for the first time since 1922.

With that draw, Nottingham Forest edged closer to second-placed Arsenal by just two points and sit six behind league leaders Liverpool. As things stand, the Tricky Trees are shaping up for a fairytale run, reminiscent of Leicester City's unforgettable 2015/16 title triumph.

Key Players

At 33, Chris Wood is defying the odds, spearheading Nottingham Forest’s attack with 13 Premier League goals in just 20 games. Remarkably, the Kiwi has struck the opening goal nine times this season—three more than anyone else in the league. Now just one goal away from surpassing his career-best tally of 14, shared between Burnley (2019-20) and Forest (2023-24), Wood continues to show he’s a clutch performer and a game-changer for Forest

Wood has thrived as a clinical penalty box poacher, perfectly complementing the electric trio of  Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Hudson-Odoi. Together, this trio has accounted for nine goals and nine assists, creating a potent  combo  with Wood. 

Team News 

Danilo's return to Nottingham Forest's squad after a lengthy recovery from a broken ankle has given fans a reason to cheer. After being named for the FA Cup clash against Luton Town, where he featured for some minutes, the midfielder is poised to make a full comeback to the squad for the Southampton game. 

Nottingham Forest  Probable XI - Sels (GK); Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno, Yates, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood

Southampton FC Preview

Despite a disappointing result, Southampton found a silver lining in Kamaldeen Sulemana’s electrifying display against Manchester United. Fresh off scoring in the FA Cup, the Ghanaian winger was a constant thorn in United’s defense, dazzling with his blistering pace and skillful trickery. He repeatedly tested Andre Onana, forcing a string of saves, while leaving defenders like Leny Yoro struggling to keep up. As Southampton prepares to face Nottingham’s robust defense, all eyes will once again be on Sulemana, whose energy and direct play could be the key to unlocking opportunities for the Saints. 

Team News

With Southampton's defense showing clear signs of vulnerability, the absence of their captain and key center-back, Jack Stephens, is a blow. Set to return only in early February, Stephens’ leadership and experience could have been crucial in this tough spell. Thankfully, the rest of the squad from the Manchester United match remains available, but they’ll need to step up to fill the gap left in his absence

Southampton Probable XI - Ramsdale (GK) ; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Bree, Sugawara, Aribo, Ugochukwu, Walker-Peters, Dibling, Fernandes, Kamaldeen Sulemana 

Nottingham Forest enters this clash as the clear favorite, with their strong form and recent dominance over Southampton. Most betting sites are aligning with this prediction, making it a difficult task for the Saints to pull off an upset. Nottingham is tipped to win this match with odds of 1.40 compared to Southampton's 7.50, while a draw is priced at 4.75. At the same time, an expected goals (xG) total of 2.5 for Nottingham Forest and 3 for Southampton is anticipated for the match.

Nottingham Forest to Win (3-1)

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Author: Vishnu Reddy