Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest side face Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League this Sunday.
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s game plan worked flawlessly last weekend as Nottingham Forest claimed a significant 1-0 victory over Liverpool.
Now, the challenge for Nuno is to replicate that success as Forest aim to keep their unbeaten Premier League run intact. He faces some key decisions regarding his team selection for Sunday’s clash against Brighton and Hove Albion.
At Anfield, Nuno crowded the midfield to stifle Liverpool’s attack. The question is whether he’ll stick with the same approach for Brighton. “We started with Elliot (Anderson) and Nico (Dominguez) playing wide,” Nuno explained. “With their defensive tasks, dealing with the full-backs’ inside runs, it was tough for them to last the full game. We knew we had to make subs, and they made an impact, which was good.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga came off the bench and made a significant difference, with Elanga assisting Hudson-Odoi’s winning goal. Both will be keen to earn a starting spot on Sunday.
Brighton have also started the season well and will be tough opposition. However, Ipswich Town showed it’s possible to frustrate them with a solid 0-0 draw last weekend. Brighton dominated possession but couldn’t break through. Nuno must decide whether to stick with Anderson and Dominguez in the same roles, using Hudson-Odoi and Elanga as impact substitutes once again.
Alternatively, he could start Hudson-Odoi and Elanga while adjusting the midfield. Last week, Ryan Yates and James Ward-Prowse were instrumental in shielding the defence. “The mid-block was so good,” Yates said after the match. Ward-Prowse, impressive on his debut, looks likely to retain his place, while Anderson has also become a key figure early in the season. Nuno might consider if those two can form a midfield pairing, with Ward-Prowse’s set-piece abilities offering another potential advantage.
Alex Moreno also made his Premier League debut for Forest against Liverpool. His inclusion shifted Ola Aina to the right and left Neco Williams on the bench. It seems unlikely that Nuno will alter his back four after keeping a clean sheet, but if Willy Boly is fit, he could consider switching to a three-man defense.
Predicted Forest XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Ward-Prowse, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.