English Premier
2026-05-17 - Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 17th May 2026 - Kick Off 12:30pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester United
Early Cup exits were not part of the plan, but the decision to replace Ruben Amorim with Michael Carrick sparked a strong run of form that has carried Manchester United back into the Champions League. The interim manager is looking like favourite to take the role on a permanent basis, but Carrick and the players will be focusing on signing off at Old Trafford with another positive result.
One more point will mean Manchester United are guaranteed to finish 3rd in the Premier League table, but they will be chasing another victory at home to round out the campaign. The side have a 12-3-3 record at Old Trafford in the Premier League and a victory will mean only Manchester City and Arsenal managed to pick up more home points than Manchester United during this season.
Manchester United bounced back from the home defeat to Leeds United to win 3 Premier League games in a row before the goalless draw at Sunderland last Saturday. Under Michael Carrick, Manchester United have won 7 of 8 Premier League games played at Old Trafford.
Casemiro is going to be available in his last home game for the club, while both Manuel Ugarte and Benjamin Sesko are hoping to be involved.
Nottingham Forest
The early performance in the home game against Newcastle United was not very impressive, but Nottingham Forest were the better team at the end of the contest and the 1-1 draw has secured Premier League Football for another season. That fixture had been played just a couple of days after Nottingham Forest had been dumped out of the Europa League Semi Final, which also would have seen the players lack some energy.
Vitor Pereira will feel he has been successful in his aims as manager of Nottingham Forest by keeping the club in the Premier League, although he will also feel frustrated that he did not help the club into the Europa League Final. The Tricky Trees have a 7-3-8 away record this season in the English top flight.
Nottingham Forest had won 5 games in a row in all competitions over a two and a half week period, but that run ended in the 4-0 loss at Aston Villa in the Europa League Semi Final Second Leg. They are not only unbeaten in 4 away Premier League games in a row, but Nottingham Forest have won the last 3 in succession at Tottenham Hotspur (0-3), Sunderland (0-5) and Chelsea (1-3).
Murillo, Ola Aina, Zach Abbott, Ibrahim Sangare, Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White are all hoping to travel with the squad.
Head to Head
Nottingham Forest and Manchester United drew 2-2 at the City Ground earlier this season.
Manchester United had won 7 in a row at Old Trafford against Nottingham Forest before the 2-3 defeat in December 2024.
Prediction
This is an end of season fixture with little on the line for both teams and that does make it more difficult to read.
With a World Cup on the horizon, some of the important players may not want to risk themselves in challenges and that is something to consider.
Manchester United are playing for the last time at Old Trafford having secured Champions League Football, but Michael Carrick still has a permanent job to secure. This is another test of his skills after a poor performance last week in the North East and the board may be looking to see how the players bounce back.
They have been significantly better at home and some of the players that missed the trip to the Stadium of Light are expected to return.
Casemiro will certainly want to sign off at Old Trafford with one more big performance, while Bruno Fernandes is still chasing an assist that will see him tie the season record.
This does mean there is some motivation for the home team and the attacking play of Manchester United has been clearer to see at Old Trafford under Michael Carrick.
After securing their Premier League status, it is harder to know what to expect from Nottingham Forest.
Vitor Pereira has led his team to 3 away Premier League wins in a row and Nottingham Forest have been scoring goals for fun in those victories, but they were missing several important players last weekend. Another week of training could see some of those return, but Nottingham Forest may be a little vulnerable with little to play for and this being the last away game of the season.
Results make them dangerous, but Nottingham Forest will not be able to start as slowly as they did last Sunday and get away with it again.
They did win at Old Trafford last season, but Manchester United can earn some revenge in a victory where they are able to score at least twice.
The Pick :
Manchester United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
