Overview
Fulham will enter the match against Nottingham Forest in the context of having just experienced a shock of being eliminated from the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. However, Marco Silva and his team still have reason to be confident thanks to their home record and favorable head-to-head history.
Since returning to the Premier League in 2022, Fulham have often played well at Craven Cottage, especially against Forest. The home side have won five of their six Premier League meetings with the opponent, including all three of their home games. However, Fulham's recent form has raised big questions, when they lost 2 consecutive home matches - a rare thing under Silva.
A noteworthy point is that Fulham's recent matches have often been open. The last 4 rounds of the Premier League have seen them both score and concede, with a total of 20 goals created. set pieces, especially corners, continue to be an important weapon, as all 7 of Fulham's dead-ball goals this season have come from corners.
Harry Wilson is the most prominent factor in the home team. The Welsh international has been directly involved in six goals in just his last four games, suggesting an increasingly important role in Fulham's attacking system.
On the other hand, Nottingham Forest entered the match with more confidence than at the beginning of the season. Sean Dyche's side have won four of their last six, including an impressive 3-0 win over Tottenham. Forest also showed stability in the matches taking place on Monday evening, when they were unbeaten in the last 7 matches in this time frame.
However, Forest will suffer significant losses in terms of Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly's absence from the African Cup. This directly affects the away team's ability to control the midfield and defend remotely, especially in the context that Fulham often exploit set pieces well.
With home advantage but not really stable performance, Fulham is likely to face many difficulties against a Nottingham Forest team that is playing more practically and effectively. The match promises to be a tug-of-war, where small details - especially from dead balls - can decide the outcome.
In terms of force, Nottingham Forest are waiting to assess the ability to play of goalkeeper Matz Sels and midfielder Nicolas Dominguez. However, Forest are unlikely to be without key striker Chris Wood and captain Ryan Yates, which will directly affect their ability to compete and their attack weight.
Fulham also encountered many difficulties in personnel. Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon continue to be absent due to injury, while the trio of Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze have left to join the Nigeria team for the African Football Cup.
Head-to-head record
As mentioned, Fulham has an outstanding head-to-head record against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. The Craven Cottage side have won five of their six meetings with Forest in the competition, including all three at home.
This 83% win rate is Fulham's highest against any opponent they have met more than twice in the Premier League. Notably, all three of Nottingham Forest's away defeats to Fulham were overwhelming, with a total score of 1-9.
Score prediction: Fulham 2-1 Nottingham Forest
The match between Fulham and Nottingham Forest takes place at 3:00 am on December 23 (Vietnam time).
