Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest take on Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day as Nuno Espirito Santo aims to get one over on his struggling former employers.

Nuno's Tottenham stint was short and remarkably forgettable, but the former Portuguese goalkeeper has worked wonders at the City Ground. After keeping Forest up last season, the East Midlanders entered Christmas fourth in the Premier League table and boast genuine aspirations of claiming European football.

The job performed by Nuno is comparable to his work at Molineux. After returning Wolves to the top flight in 2018, a stellar season saw them qualify for the Europa League, and they enjoyed quite the continental journey before it was cut short by eventual winners Sevilla in the quarter-finals.

Spurs harbour hopes of winning that competition this term, with their domestic indifference meaning Ange Postecoglou is going to have to rely on the cups to potentially facilitate a third year in charge.

The depleted Lilywhites were blown away by Liverpool at the weekend and have struggled defensively throughout December in the absence of key starters. They're 11th in the table with a worrying sense developing that things could get worse for the Lilywhites before their fortunes improve.

Here is 90min's guide to this Premier League Boxing Day clash.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

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Nottingham Forest team news

Nuno Espirito Santo has worked wonders at the City Ground / Alex Davidson/GettyImages

Unlike their Premier League rivals, Forest haven't been hindered too much by injuries this season and it's a familiar story ahead of Tottenham's visit.

Nuno Espirito Santo has been without midfielders Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare for much of the campaign, and they won't be available until the new year. While Sangare is dealing with a hamstring issue, Danilo has been nursing a broken ankle.

There could be a recall for Ryan Yates with Nicolas Dominguez suspended and we could see Nuno revert to a back four having won with a back three at Brentford.

Nottingham Forest predicted lineup vs Tottenham

Forest predicted lineup vs Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

Tottenham team news

Destiny Udogie was among the substitutes on Sunday / ANDY BUCHANAN/GettyImages

Postecoglou remains short-handed in defence, but Destiny Udogie was among the substitutes against Liverpool and could be in contention on Boxing Day after he picked up an injury during the 5-0 drubbing of Southampton.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven won't play until the new year, but Ben Davies is believed to be closing in on a return from a hamstring injury. Richarlision may also be back during the first week of 2025, while Mikey Moore has returned to the training field following a lengthy spell out through illness.

Wilson Odobert and Guglielmo Vicario are poised for February returns.

Brennan Johnson will likely be recalled to the starting XI with Postecoglou potentially bringing Rodrigo Bentancur back into the side after serving a seven-game ban.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs Forest (4-3-3): Forster; Spence, Gray, Dragsusin, Udogie; Bentancur, Sarr, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Son.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham score prediction

Things will improve for Tottenham, but Postecoglou may have to wait until the new year to oversee a resurgence. There have been impressive individual performers for the Lilywhites as of late, including Djed Spence and Archie Gray, but they've faltered as a collective and have underperformed away from home. We can't read too much into their 5-0 triumph over lowly Southampton at St Mary's.

This team is running on fumes and they're facing a buoyant Nottingham Forest team that thrives when handed space in transition. Spurs will have to play a near-perfect game to control their hosts, something they'd struggle to do with an optimal XI out.

Given the strength of Forest's backline and their proficiency on the counter, it seems as if Spurs will succumb on Boxing Day.