Erik ten Hag and Steve Cooper on the sidelines

How to follow United v Nottingham Forest

Wednesday 23 August 2023 11:42

Manchester United host Nottingham Forest in our third match of the Premier League season on Saturday, with kick-off at 15:00 BST.

The Reds made a winning start to the campaign when Raphael Varane’s header earned a 1-0 victory over Wolves at Old Trafford.

But after the disappointment of losing 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in our first away game last weekend, Erik ten Hag’s side will be looking to get back on track against a Forest side who lost 2-1 at Arsenal in their first match before beating Sheffield United by the same scoreline last time out.

We will also come up against a familiar face in Anthony Elanga, who will return to the Theatre of Dreams for the first time since leaving United for Forest last month.

HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE GAME?

Saturday’s match will not be shown live on TV in the UK so, but on MUTV, ManUtd.com and the United App, you can listen to live radio commentary as well as watching exclusive build-up and analysis either side of the 90 minutes. Our live pre-match show will commence at 13:55 BST and will feature the expert opinions of former United defenders Denis Irwin and Mikael Silvestre.

WHEN CAN YOU SEE THE HIGHLIGHTS?

Short highlights of the game will be published two hours after the final whistle; 20-minute and 90-minute versions will be available from midnight.

WHERE CAN I GET A MATCH PROGRAMME?

If you're not able to buy our essential matchday read at Old Trafford, you can order your copy of United Review here.

WHAT'S THE TEAM NEWS?

The Reds will be without Mason Mount, after our no.7 picked up an injury in the Tottenham game which is expected to keep the midfielder out until the international break next month.

This will force Ten Hag into making at least one change to his line-up, having named the same starting XI for both of our league outings so far. The manager could provide a further update on his squad when he faces the media in Friday's pre-match press conference at Carrington, which will be shown on MUTV, ManUtd.com and the United App as usual. 

Meanwhile, for the visitors, goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, experienced defender Felipe and full-back Omar Richards are all currently sidelined through injury. Harry Toffolo returned to the squad as an unused substitute against Sheffield United after recovering from a hernia operation and the defender could get some game time against United.

Elanga will be hoping to earn his first start for Forest, against his former club, after impressing as a sub in their opening two matches.

Mount picks up injury

 Article

United's new midfielder will miss Saturday's Old Trafford encounter with Nottingham Forest.

WHO’S THE MANAGER?

Steve Cooper will have been at the helm at Forest for two years next month, having taken charge in September 2021 when they were bottom of the Championship.

After guiding the club into the Premier League via the promotion play-offs in his first season, the Welshman helped the east Midlands outfit stay in the division last term, securing a 16th-placed finish.

The 43-year-old, who managed England’s Under-17s to World Cup glory in 2017, also came close to earning promotion to the top flight with Swansea City but they were beaten in the 2021 Championship play-off final by Brentford at Wembley - four months before his arrival at the City Ground.

Our 10 goals v Forest last season Video

Our 10 goals v Forest last season

In 2022/23, we played four matches against Nottingham Forest and scored 10 goals, including a couple of worldies...

WHAT HAPPENED LAST SEASON?

The two teams met four times in all competitions in 2022/23 with United winning all four games, scoring 10 goals without reply.

In the Premier League, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Fred were on target as the Reds won 3-0 at Old Trafford two days after Christmas, before goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot clinched a 2-0 success at the City Ground in mid-April.

During our journey to success in the Carabao Cup, we met Forest in the semi-finals. A comfortable 3-0 victory in the first leg at the City Ground was achieved through strikes from Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes, before Fred and Martial netted against them in M16 to seal a 5-0 aggregate triumph.

Highlights: United v Forest Video

Highlights: United v Forest

Two-minute highlights | Watch all the best action from United's first game against Forest since 1999...

WHAT ARE THE OTHER FIXTURES?

There’s a full Premier League schedule this weekend, spread over three days…

Friday 25 August

Chelsea v Luton Town (20:00 BST)

Saturday 26 August

Bournemouth v Tottenham (12:30 BST)
Arsenal v Fulham
Brentford v Crystal Palace
Everton v Wolves
UNITED v Nottingham Forest
Brighton v West Ham (17:30 BST)

Sunday 27 August

Burnley v Aston Villa (14:00 BST)
Sheffield United v Manchester City (14:00 BST)
Newcastle v Liverpool (16:30 BST)

Kick-offs 15:00 BST unless stated.

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