Sunday’s Premier League programme kicks off at Outdated Trafford as Manchester United and Nottingham Forest lock horns within the penultimate spherical of the 2025/26 season.
With a top-five end already within the bag, Michael Carrick can now calmly concentrate on steering United to their first third-place end since 2022/23, as they sit six factors away from fourth-placed Liverpool after final weekend’s draw.
In one in all Man Utd’s weakest attacking performances below the 44-year-old, Sunderland held the Crimson Devils to a scoreless stalemate on the Stadium of Mild, limiting them to a disappointing 0.57 xG.
On a extra optimistic notice, Carrick’s aspect registered solely their second clear sheet of their final 9 league outings, as they look forward to Matthijs de Ligt’s return from a prolonged harm lay-off.
Nevertheless, the Dutchman is not going to rejoin the squad earlier than the early phases of the 2026/27 marketing campaign after present process surgical procedure to handle his niggling again drawback.
Job nearly accomplished
A degree in what may very well be Carrick’s Outdated Trafford farewell will probably be sufficient to seal a third-place end, however Man Utd are looking for a robust finish to the season regardless of their toothless efficiency in Tyne and Put on final trip.
There’s hardly a greater place than the Theatre of Goals for United to rediscover their attacking spark, as they’ve gained seven of their eight residence league matches since Carrick’s arrival in January (L1).
Moreover, they are going to be aiming to increase a robust run of type, having suffered only one defeat of their final 18 residence league fixtures on the finish of the season, recording 13 wins and 4 attracts in that interval.
On the identical time, the Crimson Devils may safe back-to-back clear sheets within the Premier League for the primary time since September 2024, although it might require them to finish a poor run of conceding in 5 straight residence video games.
Whether or not Forest may throw a spanner within the works stays to be seen, however the current historical past of this fixture suggests Man Utd can’t afford to underestimate their upcoming rivals.
United squandered a slim half-time lead in a goal-laden 2-2 attract November’s reverse conflict on the Metropolis Floor, stretching their winless run towards the Tough Bushes to 4 Premier League matches (D1, L3).
No strain
After a surprising 3-2 triumph on their final go to to Outdated Trafford in December 2024, Forest may beat United in consecutive league conferences at this venue for the primary time for the reason that early Nineties.
Neutralising five-time Man Utd ‘Participant of the Season’ Bruno Fernandes would go an extended option to reaching that long-awaited feat, because the guests look to construct upon their late-season resurgence.
Final weekend’s 1-1 draw towards Newcastle United didn’t simply prolong Forest’s unbeaten league streak to eight video games (W4, D4). It additionally helped them stave off relegation fears heading into the season finale.
Due to this fact, Vitor Pereira’s males should take the sector in excessive spirits, particularly now that they’re using on the membership’s longest unbeaten run within the Premier League for the reason that 1995/96 season.
Regardless of 4 managerial modifications this season, they’ve managed to keep up an honest away type all through the marketing campaign, selecting up 24 of their 43 factors on the street.
With solely seven groups outshining Forest’s away tally, it’s cheap to count on the guests to focus on a 3rd successive victory of their remaining away league fixture of the season.
Prediction
With nothing however satisfaction left to play for, Forest may give Man Utd a run for his or her cash, however that is United’s recreation to lose.
Though one other clear sheet is way from a foregone conclusion, Carrick’s costs ought to have simply sufficient high quality and momentum at Outdated Trafford to safe a robust end to the marketing campaign.
Manchester United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
