Manchester United will be looking to pick up where they left off in the Premier League on Tuesday evening, with the 20-time English champions welcoming Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils recorded a 2-1 victory over Fulham in their last league match on November 13, while Forest were also winners before the campaign was halted for the World Cup, beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at home.
Match preview
Man United were back in competitive action on Wednesday evening, recording a 2-0 victory over Championship leaders Burnley at Old Trafford to progress to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.
Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford scored the goals for the Red Devils, who have been drawn against Charlton Athletic in the final eight, so a spot in the semi-finals of the competition is certainly open to them.
Man United were also 2-1 winners over Fulham in the Premier League last time out, with Alejandro Garnacho coming up with a last-gasp winner for the 20-time English champions to leave them fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand on the North London club.
The Red Devils have two league games before the end of the year, with their next fixture coming away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 31, and they will then open 2023 at home to Bournemouth.
Man United have only lost once in the Premier League since the start of October, and there have certainly been plenty of positive signs this season under the management of Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils will be taking on Forest for the first time since their 8-1 victory over them during the 1998-99 Premier League campaign, while the Reds have not beaten Man United since December 1994.
Forest were also in EFL Cup action last week, progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition courtesy of a 4-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Steve Cooper’s side were last in Premier League action on November 12, recording a 1-0 victory over Palace at the City Ground, with Morgan Gibbs-White netting the only goal of the contest in the 54th minute.
Forest have now only lost one of their last five league games, including a 1-0 victory over Liverpool on October 22, and they are currently 18th in the table, boasting 13 points from their opening 15 matches.
The Reds are expected to be involved in a relegation battle this season despite signing an incredible 21 players over the summer, while they could further improve their squad during the January market.
Forest have the worst away record in the Premier League this season, picking up just two points from seven matches, conceding 19 times and scoring only once, which is an indication of the size of their task heading into Tuesday’s game with Ten Hag’s team.
Team News
Man United will again definitely be without the services of Axel Tuanzebe through injury, while Diogo Dalot remains a major doubt with the issue that he picked up in Portugal’s World Cup quarter-final with Morocco.
The Red Devils have problems in the middle of their defence, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane both major doubts following their involvement in the World Cup final, while Harry Maguire is unwell.
Maguire could recover to line up alongside Victor Lindelof in the middle of the defence, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka could play just his second league game of the campaign at right-back.
Antony featured off the bench against Burnley and could now come into the XI here, potentially at the expense of Garnacho, with Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Anthony Martial also set to feature in the final third.
Jadon Sancho, though, remains a major doubt, as he continues to undergo a personal fitness programme.
As for Forest, Dean Henderson is ineligible against his parent club, while Serge Aurier, Gibbs-White and Wayne Hennessey face late fitness tests.
Omar Richards, Giulian Biancone, Cheikhou Kouyate and Moussa Niakhate will definitely be unavailable for selection at Old Trafford due to injury problems.
Jesse Lingard is likely to be in the XI against his former club, while Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi could both start if Gibbs-White is unable to prove his fitness ahead of kickoff at Old Trafford.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Hennessey; Williams, Worrall, Boly, Toffolo; Yates, Mangala, Colback; Johnson, Awoniyi, Lingard