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Southampton vs Nottingham Forest: Preview and Prediction

Southampton and Nottingham Forest will aim to record their first win of the 2024/25 Premier League season when they meet at St. Mary’s on Saturday.

Gameweek 2 of the 2024/25 Premier League season begins on Saturday with the game between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United at the Amex Stadium. The action then continues with five simultaneous fixtures, including Southampton vs Nottingham Forest at St. Mary’s.

Southampton returned to the Premier League after winning the EFL Championship promotion playoffs, beating Leeds United in the final. The Saints were impressive in their pre-season campaign, losing only one game. However, they began their 2024/25 Premier League season with a 1-0 defeat to ten-man Newcastle United despite dominating the proceedings and taking considerably more shots.

As for Nottingham Forest, they showed some promising signs in their season-opening Premier League fixture. The Tricky Trees might have felt they deserved to beat Bournemouth instead of playing a 1-1 draw. However, Nuno Espirito Santo should be happy with his team’s performance, which has promised a mid-table finish this term.

Nottingham Forest eked out a narrow 1-0 win over Southampton the last time these teams clashed at St. Mary’s in the Premier League, with Taiwo Awoniyi scoring the only goal. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Southampton

Russell Martin does not have many pressing injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the Southampton manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players.

Martin has been sweating over the fitness of Adam Lallana, Ross Stewart, and Kamaldeen Sulemana, but the trio should be available this weekend. However, Gavin Bazunu remains on the sidelines due to his achilles injury, with Juan Larios at least one more week away from returning to action.

Alex McCarthy should take his spot between the sticks, with Southampton lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him against Nottingham Forest. The central defensive unit should feature Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek, and Jack Stephens. Samuel Edozie and Kyle Walker-Peters will likely start as the two wing-backs.

The duo will look to contribute on both ends of the pitch while flanking the three midfielders, Will Smallbone, Joe Aribo and Flynn Downes. Finally, Adam Armstrong and Ben Brereton Diaz should be the two central attackers for the home side.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): McCarthy; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Edozie, Smallbone, Downes, Aribo, Walker-Peters; Armstrong, Brereton Diaz

Nottingham Forest

Unlike his counterpart in the Southampton dugout, Nuno Espirito Santo has a new issue to deal with ahead of the trip to St. Mary’s. The Nottingham Forest manager will be without one first-team player on Saturday.

Danilo is the latest absentee after picking up an excruciating ankle injury that will require surgery. The Brazilian midfielder will be unavailable for several months. However, Danilo is the only absentee, with Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga fit and available.

Matz Sels should take his spot between the sticks, with Nottingham Forest lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Southampton on Saturday. The backline should feature Neco Williams, Willy Boly, Murillo, and Ola Aina.

As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ryan Yates and Ibrahim Sangare, with the former replacing Danilo in the double pivot. Morgan Gibbs-White will reprise the no. 10 role, with Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi being the two wide attackers. Finally, Chris Wood should spearhead the Nottingham Forest attack on Saturday.