Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League Match Preview

Nottingham Forest host Tottenham Hotspur today, Saturday, September 5, 2026, in a Premier League Matchweek 3 clash at the City Ground. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM BST (7:30 PM IST). Both sides are still searching for their first league victory of the season, making this an important early test for two ambitious teams.

Nottingham Forest come into the match with one point from their opening two games. After losing 1–0 to Leeds United on the opening weekend, Oliver Glasner's side produced a much stronger performance at Anfield, twice taking the lead against Liverpool before eventually settling for a 2–2 draw. That result should give Forest confidence heading into their first home league fixture since the opening weekend.

Morgan Gibbs-White remains one of Forest's most important attacking players. His creativity between the lines and ability to arrive in dangerous areas will be particularly important against Tottenham. Dan Ndoye and Liam Delap also offer pace and directness in attack, giving Glasner several options when Forest transition forward.

Forest have received a boost with Ibrahim Sangaré returning to the squad after a minor calf problem. New signing Daniel Muñoz is also available, although Glasner has indicated that the wing-back is still building his fitness after a disrupted pre-season.

Tottenham's start has been significantly more difficult. Roberto De Zerbi's side have lost both of their opening Premier League matches, going down 3–0 at Brentford before suffering a 2–0 home defeat against Newcastle United. Spurs are yet to score a league goal this season and currently sit at the bottom of the table.

De Zerbi will be desperate for an attacking response. Tottenham have shown promising spells of possession but have struggled to turn that control into clear chances and goals. The return of Savio to fitness provides another attacking option, while Mathys Tel and Omar Marmoush could be important as Spurs look for their first league breakthrough.

There are still concerns over Tottenham's squad availability. Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert remain sidelined with ACL injuries, while James Maddison is back in first-team training but is not expected to be ready for this match. Dejan Kulusevski has also returned to training after a lengthy absence but is unlikely to feature.

The recent head-to-head record gives Forest plenty of encouragement. Nottingham Forest have won their last four Premier League meetings with Tottenham, while Spurs have struggled to deal with Forest's transition-based approach. That makes Glasner's tactical setup particularly interesting, especially against a Tottenham team that wants to dominate possession under De Zerbi.

Forest are likely to remain compact before looking to attack quickly when possession turns over. Tottenham, meanwhile, should try to control the ball and push Forest deeper. The first goal could be crucial: Spurs desperately need confidence, while Forest have already shown against Liverpool that they can punish teams when space opens up.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2–1 Tottenham Hotspur