Afrigather Verdict: House win
Greatest odds: 12/25
Bookmaker: Unibet
Chelsea, revitalized underneath Enzo Maresca’s management, are aiming to safe their sixth consecutive victory throughout all competitions after they face Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge in Sunday’s Premier League conflict.
The Blues have been in spectacular kind, having recorded successive 4-2 wins over Brighton & Hove Albion within the league and Gent in Europe over the previous week. Then again, Forest shall be seeking to bounce again from a slender 1-0 defeat to Fulham of their final Premier League outing.
Chelsea
Cole Palmer stole the present in Chelsea’s dominant Premier League victory over Brighton, changing into the primary participant to attain 4 targets in a single half of a recreation within the English high flight. The Blues continued their kind within the Europa Convention League, with targets from Renato Veiga, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor main them to a complete 4-2 win over Gent. A sentimental second arose when Gent’s objective was arrange by Andri Gudjohnsen, son of Chelsea legend Eidur Gudjohnsen, however in any other case, it was all enterprise for Maresca’s males.
Chelsea’s current kind, with 5 consecutive victories and 16 targets of their final 4 matches, has propelled them again into Champions League rivalry. They now boast the Premier League’s finest attacking report with 15 targets within the opening weeks and a powerful shot conversion fee of 20.3%. Their streak, together with wins over Bournemouth, West Ham, and Brighton, highlights their resurgence after a few underwhelming seasons, with solely Liverpool and Arsenal outperforming them earlier than gameweek seven.
As Chelsea welcome Nottingham Forest, they’ll look to keep up their scoring contact and proceed their push towards the Premier League’s higher echelons.
Group Information
Chelsea’s damage issues stay minimal forward of their Premier League conflict with Nottingham Forest, with solely Reece James and Omari Kellyman sidelined as a consequence of thigh accidents. Each gamers are on the street to restoration, however James’ return date stays unclear. In the meantime, Carney Chukwuemeka missed the Europa Convention League fixture in opposition to Gent as a consequence of sickness, however he was unlikely to characteristic anyway.
Jadon Sancho, considered one of a number of key gamers rested midweek, will seemingly return to the beginning XI. The winger has been a inventive pressure for Chelsea, offering assists in all three of his Premier League appearances this season. He now has the prospect to match Cesc Fabregas’ report by aiding in his first 4 league video games for the Blues.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest’s status as a tricky aspect to interrupt down has been strengthened in current weeks, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s males have persistently edged out slender wins and earned hard-fought attracts. Nonetheless, their unbeaten Premier League begin got here to an finish in opposition to Fulham, with Raul Jimenez’s second-half penalty sealing a 1-0 defeat. Whereas Forest couldn’t discover their of entirety in that encounter, their mid-table standing – sitting comfortably in tenth place – highlights their stable kind.
Away from house, Forest have been formidable, securing 13 factors from their final 15 accessible in away fixtures. Their unbeaten street run contains 4 consecutive wins earlier than an action-packed 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. They’ll look to attract on their away kind as soon as once more as they journey to Stamford Bridge, the place they earned a shock 1-0 win final season due to Anthony Elanga’s objective.
Chelsea, nevertheless, responded with a 3-2 victory on the Metropolis Floor, and Forest shall be hoping to make historical past by claiming back-to-back away league wins at Stamford Bridge for the primary time in over a century. Whereas Forest might not match Chelsea’s firepower, their defensive self-discipline and counter-attacking menace make them a difficult opponent for the in-form Blues.
Group Information
Forest shall be bolstered by the return of Morgan Gibbs-White, whose absence by means of suspension in opposition to Fulham left a notable hole in creativity. The Three Lions worldwide is predicted to fit straight again into the lineup, with Nicolas Dominguez prone to drop out to accommodate Gibbs-White’s return to the fold.
Moreover, Taiwo Awoniyi’s underwhelming 45-minute stint in opposition to Fulham may see him changed by both Anthony Elanga or former Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, including a contemporary dynamic to Forest’s assault.
Regardless of the continuing accidents to key midfielders Ibrahim Sangare (thigh) and Danilo (ankle), Nuno Espirito Santo has an in any other case fully-fit squad to select from as his aspect prepares to face Chelsea.
Conclusion
Forest’s defensive solidity has been considered one of their key strengths this season, conceding solely 18 photographs on track within the Premier League—a powerful determine matched solely by Manchester Metropolis. This resolute backline will seemingly pose a problem for Chelsea, making it troublesome for the Blues to interrupt them down simply.
Nonetheless, with Cole Palmer in scintillating kind, Chelsea have discovered methods to unlock cussed defenses in current weeks. Regardless of Forest’s spectacular defensive numbers, Chelsea’s momentum and attacking depth ought to see them lengthen their successful streak to 6 in all competitions, even when it requires endurance to search out the breakthrough.
Verdict: House win
Greatest odds: 12/25
Bookmaker: Unibet
