Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Prediction | Premier League 2025/26 | EPL Prediction | Dec 23 – Who Wins the Critical Battle for Mid-Table Safety?

The lights at Craven Cottage will shine on a tense lower-mid-table scrap this Monday as the festive fixture list kicks into high gear. The hosts enter this fixture looking to stabilize their standing after a rocky patch of inconsistency, clinging to 14th place. Meanwhile, the visitors arrive with renewed grit under Sean Dyche, fresh off two vital home wins that lifted them out of the drop zone, though their last away outing ended in defeat.

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Match Details at a Glance

Injury News and Suspensions

Fulham

Marco Silva has a relatively manageable medical report compared to his counterpart, but he is missing a key piece of his attacking puzzle. Rodrigo Muniz remains a long-term absentee with a hamstring injury and isn’t expected back until late February 2026. On the defensive flank, Ryan Sessegnon is also sidelined with a hamstring issue, targeting a return later this month.

Nottingham Forest

Sean Dyche is navigating a full-blown crisis in the treatment room. The goalkeeping situation is precarious with Matz Sels listed as doubtful (groin), potentially forcing Victor into the fray. The outfield is even worse: strikers Chris Wood (knee) and Taiwo Awoniyi (muscle) are both out, stripping the side of its physical focal points.

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Head-to-Head Records

Form Guide

Fulham

Sitting in 14th, the Cottagers have been the definition of “hot and cold” this season. Under Silva, they remain a side that wants to dominate possession and press high, but their execution has been patchy. They tend to perform well against promoted sides or teams willing to attack them, but struggle when asked to break down stubborn defenses. While players like Harry Wilson and Samuel Chukwueze offer flair, the defense remains fragile, often leaking soft goals that undo their hard work.

Nottingham Forest

The Tricky Trees have found a new identity since Dyche took the wheel in October. Moving up to 16th, they have traded flair for functionality. The recent form shows a team that fights for every inch, securing two big home wins recently. However, their away form remains the Achilles’ heel. Dyche has instilled defensive organization, but without their primary strikers available, their attack can look toothless on the road.

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Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Key Battles

Antonee Robinson vs Callum Hudson-Odoi

Based on the players available, a likely key duel is the footrace on Fulham’s left flank. Antonee Robinson is one of the most aggressive full-backs in the league, constantly overlapping to provide width for Silva’s attack. His recovery pace is exceptional, which allows him to play high up the pitch. However, this adventurous positioning often leaves space behind him.

Callum Hudson-Odoi will be the man tasked with exploiting that space. As one of the few fit attackers with genuine pace and dribbling ability for the visitors, he carries the burden of the counter-attack. If Robinson gets caught upfield, Hudson-Odoi has the quality to drive into the box and create chaos. Dyche will likely instruct him to stay wide and wait for the transition trigger.

Emile Smith Rowe vs Ibrahim Sangaré

In the central areas, the battle between creativity and destruction will define the game’s tempo. Emile Smith Rowe has been a bright spark for the home side, drifting between the lines to link midfield and attack. His ability to turn in tight spaces is exactly what is needed to unlock a Dyche low block.

Ibrahim Sangaré, on the other hand, will act as the screen in front of the defense. With Yates out, the physical burden falls heavily on the Ivorian. He needs to be disciplined, winning tackles and intercepting passes before they reach the danger zone. If Sangaré gets pulled out of position by Smith Rowe’s movement, the home side will flood the box.

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Tactical Outlook

Marco Silva will almost certainly deploy his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation. The plan will be to monopolize the ball, pushing the full-backs high and using Iwobi and Berge to recycle possession until an opening appears. The inclusion of Chukwueze and Wilson on the wings suggests a desire to stretch the pitch horizontally. The danger for the hosts is over-committing; if they push too many bodies forward trying to break the deadlock, they leave Andersen and Bassey exposed to swift counters.

For Sean Dyche, the strategy is survival first, ambition second. Expect a rigid 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 defensive shape. Without Wood or Awoniyi to hold the ball up, the visitors might struggle to relieve pressure, forcing them to defend deep for long periods. They will look to crowd the penalty area, force the hosts wide, and deal with crosses using the height of Milenkovic and Murillo. Offensively, they will bank on set-pieces or a moment of magic from Gibbs-White or Hudson-Odoi on the break.

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Possible Playing Squad

Fulham XI:

Leno (GK), Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Iwobi, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze, Jiménez

Nottingham Forest XI:

Victor (GK), Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangaré, Anderson, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Match Prediction

The visitors are severely hampered by the absence of a recognized target man. While Dyche will have them organized, it is difficult to see where the goals come from in open play away from home. Unless they score from a corner early on, the pressure from the home side should eventually tell.

Score Prediction

Fulham 2–0 Nottingham Forest; The Cottagers’ attacking variety combined with Forest’s depleted frontline points to a comfortable, if hard-fought, home victory.

Disclaimer: This Football prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.