Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest: Premier League Preview & Potential Line-ups

Manchester United's life after Cristiano Ronaldo gets underway on Tuesday as they entertain hot Premier League relegation candidates Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. 

Erik ten Hag's side severed ties with the Portugal captain during the World Cup in the wake of his infamous interview with Pears Morgan, though they looked unfazed against Burnley in last week's League Cup action.

Goals from Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford on either side of halftime helped the Red Devils overcome the EFL Championship pacesetters 2-0. 

Now back to Premier League action, where they trail fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur by three points at the start of this round, United will be looking to win consecutive league games for the first time since September.

Alejandro Garnacho's last-gasp heroics fired Man Utd to a hard-earned 2-1 triumph at Fulham last time out, setting his team up nicely for Forest's upcoming visit.

Like their hosts, Steve Cooper's men headed into the mid-season break in high spirits, taking Crystal Palace down 1-0 at the City Ground to stay within touching distance of safety.

After arresting a two-game winless league run (D1, L1), the Tricky Trees take a trip to meet Man Utd at Old Trafford in a Premier League contest for the first time since 1998.

Stuck one point adrift of 17th-placed Everton, the visitors could escape the relegation zone at the end of this round if the results go their way, which arguably looks far-fetched. 

Match Preview

Manchester United

Since losing 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion on his touchline bow, ten Hag has turned Old Trafford into a fortress, guiding Man Utd to five straight unbeaten home league matches (W4, D1). 

Clear-cut favorites to maintain their high-flying home league streak, United can draw confidence from their outrageous all-time Premier League record against promoted sides at Old Trafford (W68, D15, L6).

Furthermore, the Red Devils have won their last six encounters against Forest in all competitions, including an emphatic 8-1 victory in their latest Premier League H2H in 1999.

Nottingham Forest

Forest may have thumped Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers 4-1 on the road in last week's League Cup action, but their form away from home in the Premier League cannot inspire much confidence. 

Cooper's men have amassed a league joint-low two points on the road so far and are one of only two teams yet to win a Premier League game on hostile turf this season (D2, L5). 

On top of that, only Bournemouth (24) have conceded more away league goals than Forest (19) this term, with the visitors shipping an average of 2.71 goals per away match. 

Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest Potential Line-ups

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Casemiro, Luke Shaw; Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Anthony Martial. 

Nottingham Forest (4-3-3): Wayne Hennessey; Neco Williams, Joe Worrall, Willy Boly, Harry Toffolo; Ryan Yates, Orel Mangala, Jack Colback; Brennan Johnson, Taiwo Awoniyi, Jesse Lingard.