Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham prediction, odds and lineups
Prediction markets make Nottingham Forest narrow 39% favorites, but Tottenham's improved chance creation and possible return of Sávio keep a finely balanced contest from looking settled.
Soccer
By George Karmpoulonis
Forest enter Premier League Matchweek 3 with one point after responding to an opening defeat against Leeds United with a 2-2 draw at Liverpool. Tottenham have lost their first two league matches without scoring, although their performance against Newcastle United was better than the 2-0 result suggests. The central tension is clear: Forest have looked more coherent in decisive moments, while Spurs have the attacking depth to change the matchup if Roberto De Zerbi can turn possession and shot volume into goals.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham match snapshot
- Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
- Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. BST / 10:00 a.m. ET
- Competition: Premier League, Matchweek 3
- Nottingham Forest win: 39%
- Draw: 28%
- Tottenham win: 35%
What is the prediction for Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham?
Market data as of September 1, 2026. For the latest market-implied probability, check the OG app.
The pricing describes a competitive three-way contest rather than a firm home favorite. Forest lead Tottenham by only four percentage points, while the draw remains close enough to show that neither side have established a convincing early-season edge.
Forest deserve their narrow position. Oliver Glasner's team recovered from a frustrating 1-0 home defeat against Leeds by leading twice in a 2-2 draw at Liverpool, with Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White supplying the goals. The same 3-4-2-1 shape also gives Forest a clear route into this game: defend with numbers through the center, release the wing-backs and attack the space Tottenham leave when their buildup breaks down. The arrival of Daniel Muñoz, who knows Glasner's demands from their time together at Crystal Palace, could sharpen that right flank further.
But Forest are not an established force under their new head coach yet. They remain without a win in two league matches, failed to score in their home opener and have conceded in both games. Tottenham, meanwhile, generated 17 attempts against Newcastle and controlled much of the first hour before losing their structure after the opening goal. Omar Marmoush has added movement through the middle, and Sávio's expected return to training would restore a natural one-on-one threat on the right.
The evidence therefore supports Forest as narrow favorites, not comfortable ones. Their recent execution, home advantage and strong record in this matchup give them the better platform. Tottenham's deeper attack is the clearest reason the gap stays small, but De Zerbi's side still need to prove that their improved approach play can survive setbacks and produce a league goal.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham odds
- Nottingham Forest win — 39%
- Draw — 28%
- Tottenham win — 35%
Forest's edge reflects the stronger latest league performance and Tottenham's goalless start, rather than a major difference in overall squad quality. Home advantage and four consecutive league wins over Spurs add weight to the favorite's case.
The away-win price sitting above the draw suggests Tottenham are considered more likely to overturn that recent pattern than merely contain Forest. Their most credible route is to reproduce the chance creation seen against Newcastle, add a natural winger such as Sávio and finish before Forest can settle into a compact back five.
Nottingham Forest team news
Glasner used a 3-4-2-1 at Liverpool, with Jair Cunha, Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo behind wing-backs Ola Aina and Neco Williams. Xaver Schlager and James McAtee formed the midfield pair, while Gibbs-White and Ndoye supported Igor Jesus. McAtee's ability to receive under pressure and Gibbs-White's freedom between the lines are important against a Tottenham midfield still learning its distances.
Ryan Yates returned to the matchday squad at Liverpool, so the opening-week absence listed in the original draft is no longer current. His route back into the XI is less straightforward after Schlager and McAtee helped Forest compete well away from home, but he gives Glasner a more defensive midfield option if protecting transitions becomes the priority.
Daniel Muñoz completed his move from Crystal Palace on August 31. Subject to matchday registration, he is a realistic debutant rather than an automatic starter. His familiarity with Glasner's wing-back role could help Forest add width and penalty-area running immediately, although Aina performed that role at Liverpool and offers continuity.
Nicolò Savona had suffered a setback in his recovery from knee surgery and was still absent against Liverpool, leaving him a doubt pending Glasner's pre-match update. Omari Hutchinson is no longer part of the selection picture after joining AC Milan on loan through June 2027.
Tottenham team news
De Zerbi set Tottenham up in a 4-2-3-1 against Newcastle, but the personnel made it unusually fluid. Archie Gray started at right back, Pedro Porro operated higher on the same flank, and Mateus Fernandes played behind Marmoush. Spurs created chances in that structure, yet the lack of a natural right winger narrowed some attacks and left their spacing vulnerable once Newcastle scored.
Sávio missed the Newcastle defeat with a minor muscular issue after scoring on his debut against Charlton Athletic. De Zerbi said he could return to training early in the week, making his fitness one of the most important pre-match checks. If available, Sávio could start on the right, allow Porro to return to fullback and free Gray for another role. Mohammed Kudus and Dominic Solanke both returned from the bench against Newcastle, giving De Zerbi alternatives across the front line, while Micky van de Ven and Porro came through their first league starts of the season.
James Maddison missed the Newcastle squad with a shoulder problem and requires a fresh assessment. Pape Matar Sarr was close to resuming training after a minor injury, while Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons were described by the club as long-term absentees on August 28.
Marmoush's movement and direct running make him a plausible starter again, but Solanke offers a more conventional penalty-area presence against Forest's back three. That is a genuine selection decision: Tottenham may need Marmoush's ability to carry the ball through transitions, yet Forest's center backs will also have to be occupied closer to goal.
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Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham key matchup factors
Can Tottenham play through Forest without exposing their rest defense?
Forest's 3-4-2-1 can become a 5-4-1 without the ball, closing central lanes and inviting opponents toward the flanks. Tottenham have the technical quality to circulate around that block, but De Zerbi admitted that the distances between his defenders, midfielders and attackers became too large against Newcastle. If both fullbacks advance and the double pivot fail to secure second balls, Gibbs-White and Ndoye have the pace and positioning to counter into the space behind them.
Will Daniel Muñoz change Forest's right side immediately?
Muñoz is built for Glasner's wing-back system: he can hold the width, attack the far post and recover into a back five. His arrival creates a meaningful decision between an immediate debut and continuity with Aina. If Muñoz starts, Tottenham's left side will have to manage a player comfortable making repeated runs beyond the inside forward rather than simply defending Forest's buildup.
Can Tottenham's returning attackers solve the finishing problem?
Seventeen attempts against Newcastle produced no goal, but the chance volume was a real improvement on the 3-0 loss at Brentford. Sávio would add isolation dribbling, Kudus offers power between the lines, and Solanke can pin center backs. The question is how many of those options are ready to start together. More attacking names will not help if the combinations remain improvised or Forest can force Tottenham into hopeful crosses.
Can Forest become more clinical at home?
Forest's strongest evidence came away at Liverpool. Their only home league match under Glasner ended in a 1-0 defeat after they failed to convert several presentable chances against Leeds. Tottenham's defensive spacing offers opportunities, but Forest still need to show they can turn territorial control into goals when expected to take more initiative. That is their clearest vulnerability as favorites.
How important will the opening goal be for Tottenham?
De Zerbi said Spurs lost confidence and their positional connections after Newcastle scored. Forest have the shape to protect a lead and the transition threat to punish a side chasing the game, so another concession could magnify Tottenham's current uncertainty. The opposite is also true: if Spurs score first, Forest may have to open their back five and play the kind of game their narrow market lead does not assume.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham head-to-head
Forest won both Premier League meetings 3-0 last season, completing a 6-0 aggregate double. They have now won four consecutive league matches against Tottenham, including 1-0 and 2-1 victories in 2024-25.
That pattern supports Forest's confidence but should not be treated as decisive. Both clubs have since changed important personnel, and Glasner was not in charge for last season's meetings. The useful lesson is tactical rather than historical: Forest have repeatedly been able to defend their penalty area and punish Tottenham when the game becomes stretched.
What could move Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham odds before kickoff?
Sávio's return is the clearest live variable because it would rebalance Tottenham's right side and change Porro's role. Updates on Maddison, Sarr and Savona also matter, as do confirmation of Muñoz's registration and whether Glasner is prepared to start him immediately.
The transfer window closes on September 1, with Tottenham still facing decisions around players omitted against Newcastle and both clubs linked with further business. Any completed late move should be assessed separately for registration, fitness and realistic starting prospects. The final lineups will then show whether De Zerbi prioritizes Marmoush's mobility or Solanke's penalty-area presence, and whether Forest retain the Liverpool midfield pairing.
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