- Looking for Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea prediction? Check match preview, key stats, team news and betting insights.
- The Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea will be played at City Ground on Saturday afternoon.
- Kickoff is at 2.30PM EAT.
Chelsea will make a journey to the City Ground this Saturday to face Nottingham Forest, as the fixture ushers in the eighth match week of the Premier League after a two-week FIFA international break.
The Blues entered the break having done a major favor for title favorites Arsenal on the first weekend of the month.
They managed to edge out the reigning champions, Liverpool, 2-1 – a result that allowed the Gunners to sit at the summit of the table for the 14 nights.
ALSO READ: Wayne Rooney says he has ‘no faith’ that Amorim can revive Man Utd
The victory was sealed thanks to Moises Caicedo’s first-half strike, before youngster Estevao Willian came off the bench to score the winner, canceling out Cody Gakpo’s equalizer for the Reds.
Now sitting seventh in the table with 11 points, Enzo Maresca’s squad will be looking to this weekend’s clash to secure their fourth win of the season and consecutive league victories.
Click this link to place your bet on the game and remember you can get up to 1000% SportPesa bonus on your multi bet of up to 50 games.
Meanwhile, the Tricky Trees are yet to weather the storm. Despite his appointment in September, Ange Postecoglou has not won a single match in his seven games in charge, with his job now hanging in the balance just two months after taking over.
Before the break, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager led his new team to a 2-0 defeat by Newcastle, where goals from Bruno Guimaraes and a Nick Pope spot-kick condemned Forest to a loss.
CLICK HERE TO BET ON THIS GAME ON SPORTPESA
They now languish in 17th place with just five points which is a far cry from their promising form last season.
This dismal record is the reason Postecoglou’s position is under intense scrutiny, and he will be going all out in this match to save himself from the sack.
Here are the key details for the Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea encounter:
What time does Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea kick off?
Chelsea will be visiting Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday, October 18, with kick-off set for 2:30 PM EAT.
Nottingham vs Chelsea Team News
Enzo Maresca has stated that he expects Cole Palmer to be sidelined for a further six weeks. The player has already missed almost four matches since sustaining a groin injury against Manchester United.
Meanwhile, the Blues’ lengthy injury list continues. Liam Delap, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, and Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is serving a ban for doping issues will be sidelined, while Benoit Badiashile is also expected to miss out.
However, there is good news for the Club World Champions. Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, and Reece James have all been declared potentially available for this clash.
The availability of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Pedro Neto will be determined ahead of the match on Saturday.
The hosts, on the other hand, have everything to smile about, as they have reported no major injuries ahead of the clash.
Nottingham Forest vs Blues Possible Line-ups
- Nottingham Forest: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Dominguez; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
- Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Estevao, Buonanotte, Neto; Pedro
Nottingham vs Chelsea head to head record and current form
Chelsea have won three of their previous four away league meetings at the City Ground (one draw). Their last defeat at Forest was in January 1997 under Ruud Gullit (0-2).
Forest have won just one of their last eight Premier League meetings with Chelsea (three draws, four defeats) – a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in September 2023.
Four of Nottingham Forest’s seven Premier League goals against Chelsea since their return to the top flight in 2022/23 have come from set-pieces.
Head-to-Head (all competitions)
- Played: 100
- Chelsea Wins: 42
- Draws: 31
- Forest Wins: 27
CLICK HERE TO BET ON THIS GAME ON SPORTPESA
Last Five Meetings at the City Ground
- 11 Jan 1997 – Premier League: L 0-2
- 20 Feb 1999 – Premier League: W 3-1
- 1 Jan 2023 – Premier League: D 1-1
- 11 May 2024 – Premier League: W 3-2
- 25 May 2025 – Premier League: W 1-0
Current Form
- Nottingham: DLLDLL
- Chelsea: WWDLLW
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Prediction
Chelsea enter this match as the favourites to take all three points, buoyed by their win over Liverpool. They will be seeking to maintain that momentum and secure back-to-back wins, so letting this opportunity slip seems unlikely.
On the other hand, the pressure is mounting on Ange Postecoglou, who needs nothing less than a victory to secure his job.
He will be throwing everything at this game to get a result, meaning Chelsea cannot afford to relax or underestimate their opponents.
This sets the stage for a tightly-contested afternoon match, with both sides desperate for maximum points. We can expect goals, provided both teams make the most of their chances.