Nottingham Forest host West Ham United at the City Ground on Sunday, with the two clubs experiencing vastly different starts to the season.
Forest are unbeaten with four points from two games and looking to make it two home wins from two for the first time in a top-flight season since 1984/85. In stark contrast, West Ham are bottom of the table after two heavy defeats and a midweek cup exit.
While Forest’s on-field form is excellent, the match is played against a backdrop of continued uncertainty over the future of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. For West Ham, the pressure on boss Graham Potter is already immense. The Hammers have made their worst start to a league season in 71 years and have lost their last three Premier League battles with Forest.
Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Sunday, 31 August 2025
- Kick-off: 2pm BST
- Venue: City Ground, Nottingham
- Last Meeting: West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forest, 18 May 2025, Premier League
Team News
Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espírito Santo has a near fully-fit squad to choose from. Midfielder Nicolas Domínguez is the only confirmed absentee with a knee injury. The manager is expected to name an unchanged lineup from the side that drew at Crystal Palace.
Dan Ndoye, who assisted a goal last week, could become the first Forest player ever to register a goal involvement in his first three Premier League games.
West Ham United
Graham Potter has a number of injuries to contend with. George Earthy, Crysencio Summerville, and Luis Guilherme all remain unavailable.
However, the squad is boosted by the arrival of new signing Mateus Fernandes from Southampton, and the 21-year-old is eligible to make his debut. Soungoutou Magassa has also joined from AS Monaco.
Form
Nottingham Forest
Despite off-field turmoil, Forest have made an excellent start on the pitch, taking four points from two tough games. A convincing 3-1 home win over Brentford was followed by a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. However, they are on a run of 10 top-flight matches without a clean sheet.
West Ham United
West Ham are in crisis after a disastrous start. Two league defeats, in which they have conceded eight goals, were followed by a 3-2 Carabao Cup exit at Wolves. Since Graham Potter’s appointment in January, no ever-present Premier League side has picked up fewer points than the Hammers.
Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest predicted XI: Sels; Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Yates; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
West Ham United predicted XI: Hermansen; Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd; Wan-Bissaka, Souček, Ward-Prowse, Diouf; Paquetá, Fernandes; Bowen.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United?
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League in the UK. Coverage begins at 1pm BST.
Read – Impressive Joao Pedro stat underlines quick start at Chelsea
See more – The biggest loan fees ever as Nicolas Jackson leaves Chelsea