Seeking to pick themselves up from a disappointing Premier League defeat last weekend, Manchester United play host to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors, meanwhile, are looking to claim their first top-flight away win since Janarury and end their 29-year wait for a victory over the Red Devils.

Match preview

After scraping past a spirited Wolverhampton Wanderers outfit with a slender 1-0 victory on the opening weekend of the new season, Man United’s luck ran out last Sunday when they were put to the sword 2-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in North London.

In a frenetic contest filled with chances at both ends, with the woodwork struck three times in a first half that was largely dominated by Man United, Spurs were by far the better side after the interval, with Pape Matar Sarr breaking the deadlock on the 49-minute mark before a Lisandro Martinez own goal seven minutes from time condemned the Red Devils to their first defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Man United notably lost the midfield battle against a new-look Spurs side in the second half, which is sure to be a concern for manager Erik ten Hag, while their away form also leaves a little to be desired as they have only won three of their last 11 Premier League games on the road since the turn of the year.

The Red Devils will welcome a return to Old Trafford, though, where they have not lost in the top flight since the opening day of last season against Brighton & Hove Albion, and they will be confident of success against Nottingham Forest on Saturday having won each of their last 10 meetings by an aggregate score of 36-3.

Indeed, Ten Hag’s men won all four encounters with Forest across all competitions last season without conceding a goal, including a 3-0 Premier League win at the Theatre of Dreams nine months ago.

Nottingham Forest’s valiant fightback against Arsenal on the opening weekend was ultimately in vain as they suffered a 2-1 defeat in North London, but they responded with victory by the same scoreline at home against newly-promoted Sheffield United last Friday.

Taiwo Awoniyi followed up his strike against the Gunners with a third-minute opener versus the Blades, that was later cancelled out in impressive fashion by debutant Gustavo Hamer three minutes after the break. However, it was Forest who had the last laugh as substitute Chris Wood headed home an 89th-minute winner just five minutes after entering the field of play to secure maximum points at the City Ground.

Although Steve Cooper was full of praise for his side after the victory, the Forest boss has encouraged his players to show a greater level of “ruthlessness” in the final third and avoid “complacency”.

Forest’s home form was a huge factor behind their success in avoiding relegation last season, accumulating 30 of their 38 points at the City Ground, while their form on the road was ranked the worst of all 20 Premier League clubs, winning just one, drawing five and losing 13 of their 19 away matches.

Hopes of quickly rectifying their away form will no doubt be a tall order for the Tricky Trees, who follow up their tricky trip to Arsenal with challenging visits to Man United, Chelsea and reigning champions Manchester City. Forest head into Saturday’s fixture having lost more Premier League games against Man United than against any other opponent, while they last beat the Red Devils back in 1994 – a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

Team News

Following the announcement on Monday that Mason Greenwood will be leaving Man United, reports emerged on Wednesday that Mason Mount is facing up to six weeks out after pulling his hamstring in the defeat at Spurs, and the midfielder is set to join Tyrell Malacia (muscle), Tom Heaton (calf), Amad Diallo (knee) and Kobbie Mainoo (ankle) in the treatment room.

However, the Red Devils could have big-money signing Rasmus Hojlund available to make his debut, as the striker has trained and is closing in on a return to full fitness after arriving from Atalanta BC with a back problem, while Harry Maguire could return to the matchday squad after missing the loss at Spurs due to an ankle issue.

The absence of Mount is set to see either Christian Eriksen or Scott McTominay start in centre-midfield alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, while Ten Hag will ponder whether to stick with Antony and Alejandro Garnacho on the flanks or hand Jason Sancho a start.

As for Nottingham Forest, Felipe is in the “final phases” of recovering from a knee injury, but Saturday’s game will come too soon for the defender, who remains on the sidelines with Giulian Biancone, Wayne Hennessey (both knee) and Omar Richards (leg fracture). Ola Aina, meanwhile, is doubtful with a groin issue that kept him out of the win over Sheffield United.

Serge Aurier provided two assists from right wing-back against the Blades and will hope to keep his place in the first XI this weekend, but the Ivorian faces competition from new signing Gonzalo Montiel who completed his loan move from Sevilla on Wednesday.

Awonyi and Tottenham Hotspur-linked Brennan Johnson have been dealing with minor fitness issues, and although the attacking pair are unlikely to play the full 90 minutes, Cooper is expected to name both players in his starting lineup, with either Morgan Gibbs-White or former Man United man Anthony Elanga set to complete the attacking triumvirate.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fernandes, Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Rashford, Sancho

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Turner; Boly, Worrall, McKenna; Aurier, Danilo, Yates, Williams; Johnson, Gibbs-White; Awoniyi

We say: Manchester United 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Considering that Man United are yet to get up to full speed in the new season, Ten Hag and co cannot take Nottingham Forest lightly on Saturday despite their impressive head-to-head record.

Nevertheless, the Red Devils should have enough quality in their side to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat and secure maximum points against a Forest side who have struggled to grind out positive results on the road over the last 12 months.