Nottingham Forest predicted XI vs West Ham: Nuno drops zero-goal flop, 2 changes
Nottingham Forest travel to West Ham on Sunday, 18 May, knowing that a win is vital to re-ignite their faltering Champions League chances.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo knows that his team selection is vital as the East Midlands outfit strive to earn their first Premier League victory since a 2-1 win at Tottenham on 21 April.
Espirito Santo’s men are now winless in four games in all competitions, and have slipped to seventh in the Premier League table.
Football Insider takes a look at how Forest could line up at the London Stadium as they look to beat West Ham on Sunday.
Forest could drop Nico Dominguez for West Ham clash
Espirito Santo’s team selection will be largely dictated by the fact that key players Murillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi are both injured.
Meanwhile, forward Taiwo Awoniyi is recovering from surgery after colliding with the post in Forest’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City last time out.
That does not allow Espirito Santo much wriggle room to make changes, even though the City Ground side desperately have to get back on form amid their Champions League push.
However, Forest could be set to drop Nico Dominguez, who failed to impress against Leicester once more, and has now failed to score in 32 Premier League outings this term, also notching just one assist.
| Nico Dominguez stats | Premier League 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 32 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 1 |
If Dominguez is dropped from Espirito Santo’s starting 11, he should be replaced by the direct Jota Silva, who usually appears as a substitute.
Meanwhile, the Forest boss could also look to rotate his midfield by swapping Ibrahim Sangare in favour of Ryan Yates.
The East Midlands club have hit a bad spell of form, and the long-serving Yates will be particularly eager to turn that around.
Nottingham Forest’s Champions League chances hang by a thread
After previously sitting third in the Premier League for large spells of the season, Forest have now slipped to seventh in the top-flight at the business end of the season.
But Espirito Santo’s men found themselves in a relegation battle last term, and have done incredibly well to secure themselves with some form of European football ahead of next season.
But if the City Ground outfit beat West Ham on Sunday, and other results go their way, they could sit just one point adrift of the top five with just one game remaining.
However, if Forest fail to emerge victorious in East London, it could scupper their Champions League chances for at least another season.
On the last day of the season, on 25 May, Espirito Santo’s men lock horns with fellow top-five hopefuls Chelsea, which could prove to be a nail-biter if the East Midlands club successfully defeat West Ham first.