The tension at the London Stadium will be thick enough to cut with a knife as two sides battling for their Premier League lives collide. The hosts are currently languishing in the relegation zone in 18th, while the visitors sit perilously just one point above them in 17th. With West Ham fresh off a run that has yielded just 14 points from 19 games, and Forest struggling for consistency, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest Match Details at a Glance
| Match Detail | Information |
| Match | West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest |
| Venue | London Stadium |
| Date | January 7, 2026 |
| Time | 2:00 AM (BDT)/ 1:30 AM (INR) |
| Broadcast & Live Streaming | Click here to watch the West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest live on Sports Live Hub (SLH) |
Injury News and Suspensions
West Ham United
Nuno Espírito Santo has a relatively light injury list, but the potential absence is significant. Key defender Jean-Clair Todibo is nursing a knock and is targeting an early January return. His availability will likely be a game-time decision, and given the magnitude of this fixture, the medical staff might be tempted to risk him if he is anywhere near fit.
Nottingham Forest
Sean Dyche faces a few more headaches regarding squad fitness. Striker Chris Wood (knee) and defender Ola Aina (hamstring) are both racing against the clock for early January returns. Midfield grit is also a concern with Ryan Yates out until mid-January due to a hamstring injury.
West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest Head-to-Head Records
| Matches Played | 123 |
| West Ham United Won | 49 |
| Nottingham Forest Won | 48 |
| Tied | 26 |
| First-ever Fixture | October 18, 1924 |
| Most-recent Fixture | August 31, 2025 |
Form Guide
West Ham United
It has been a grim winter for the Hammers. Sitting 18th in the table, the mood in East London is anxious. Under Nuno, the team is in a painful transitional phase, trying to move towards a sturdy defensive organization that leverages their physical presence. While they have players like Wilson and Bowen who can hurt teams, the cohesive unit isn’t quite there yet. Their style focuses on absorbing pressure and hitting on the break, but “significant weaknesses” in execution have left them vulnerable.
Nottingham Forest
The visitors aren’t faring much better. Sitting 17th, they are barely keeping their heads above water. Sean Dyche has instilled his usual pragmatism and defensive resilience, but inconsistency plagues them. They struggle to maintain possession a hallmark of Dyche’s style and rely heavily on direct play and set-pieces to create chances. While they have physical strength in abundance, their inability to score consistently and a tendency to crumble under sustained pressure means they rarely make life easy for themselves.
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Key Battles
Kyle Walker-Peters vs Callum Hudson-Odoi
For the home side, Kyle Walker-Peters is a crucial component of the defense. Listed as a key defensive player, his role is to patrol the flank, providing cover and using his recovery speed to snuff out danger. In Nuno’s system, the full-backs must be disciplined.
He will be directly up against Callum Hudson-Odoi, one of the few sparks of creativity in the Forest side. Hudson-Odoi offers pace, dribbling ability, and the capacity to cut inside to shoot or cross. He is vital for Dyche’s counter-attacking threat. If Hudson-Odoi can isolate Walker-Peters and beat him for pace, he opens up the entire final third for the visitors.
Jarrod Bowen vs Neco Williams
Jarrod Bowen remains the talisman for West Ham. Operating from midfield or drifting wide, his energy, direct running, and eye for goal are indispensable. With the team struggling for goals, the burden often falls on him to create something out of nothing.
Standin g in his way is Neco Williams. The Forest defender is tenacious and aggressive, fitting the Dyche mold of hard work. Williams will need to be at his sharpest to track Bowen’s movement, which can be unpredictable. If Williams gets too tight, Bowen can spin him; if he stands off, Bowen can shoot. This battle on the flank will likely determine which team controls the attacking transitions in wide areas.
West Ham United vs Nottingham ForestTactical Outlook
Tactically, this match is likely to be a war of attrition rather than a spectacle of free-flowing football. West Ham, under Nuno, will likely set up to protect Areola first and foremost. Expect a structured block, looking to deny Forest space for their direct runners. They will try to bypass the midfield quickly, looking for Wilson to hold up the ball and bring Bowen into play.
Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest will be unapologetically pragmatic. They will look to turn the game into a physical battle, utilizing long balls to bypass the press and aiming for set-piece opportunities. With players like Milenkovic and Murillo at the back, they will defend their box with their lives. However, their weakness in possession means they might cede control to West Ham, forcing the hosts to break them down something the Hammers have struggled to do this season.
West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest Possible Playing Squad
West Ham United XI:
Areola (GK), Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Magassa, Potts, Fernandes, Paquetá, Bowen, Wilson
Nottingham Forest XI:
Victor (GK), Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Zinchenko, Anderson, Dominguez, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus
West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest Match Prediction
With both teams paralyzed by the fear of losing, this has “low-scoring affair” written all over it. Home advantage usually counts for something, but the atmosphere at the London Stadium could turn toxic if West Ham starts slowly. Dyche’s side is built to frustrate, and Nuno’s side is currently too disjointed to pick apart a low block easily.
Score Prediction
West Ham United 0–0 Nottingham Forest. A tense, nervy stalemate where both defenses come out on top, leaving both managers frustrated but relieved not to lose.
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