Nottingham Forest vs Man United – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Rasmus Hojlund is ruled OUT through illness

We mentioned it was a young team out there tonight for United with two teenage starters – here’s what Jamie Redknapp had to say about those two youngsters on Sky Sports.

Garnacho plays with no fear. He’s got that star quality about him. Mainoo as well, they seem to be leading the way. He wants the ball all the time (Garnacho).

You have to be so comfortable on the ball but they have no problem giving it to Mainoo.

They’ve been out there getting warmed up ahead of tonight’s game – and it’s a good thing too with the thermometer currently reading a toasty 11 degrees.

Signs of rain to come later on but let’s hope for nothing like the deulge at the Emirates for Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to West Ham on Thursday night.

Amad Diallo is named on the bench tonight in what is a young Manchester United side that already has Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho in the starting line-up.

He impressed last term on loan at Sunderland, but one particular video of him in United training has sparked something of a debate among fans.

You can take a look in the story below…

After two fine assists last time out for Chris Wood against Newcastle, Anthony Elanga starts against his former club United.

He’s been preforming pretty well for the Tricky Trees this term, too, with four goals and five assists in 19 games, almost a contribution every two games.

United’s forward line has not exactly been firing this term – will Elanga give his old employers a taste of what they let go tonight?

Conversely, this is one of United’s favourite fixtures in the calendar.

They’ve not lost their final league game of the year since 2011 – a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford to nearby Blackburn Rovers.

That’s 11 unbeaten from 11 since then, and five wins on the spin, including of course last time out against Forest.

Will 12 see them make it 12 without loss?

The final league game of the year has not really been much of a successful one for Forest in recent years, fans will be pleased to know.

They may have beaten Wigan in their final clash of 2019, but other than that it’s two draws and six defeats in the last nine years.

Not the best omen ahead of kick-off – which is only a little over half an hour away now.

Their final game of 2022? A 3-0 defeat to a certain Manchester-based team in red…

Well the pretty seismic news in the last few weeks at United has been Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival at the club, following his succssful 25 per cent purchas of the club.

Our Man United correspondent Chris Wheeler was at Ten Hag’s pres conference and was on hand as Ten hag insisted that he still has the backing of INEOS.

You can read more about it at the story linked below too…

It all got a little bit heated earlier on when Jermaine Jenas and Rio Ferdinand gave their top four predictions after we reached the midway point in the Premier League season.

Ferdinand – maybe unsurprisingly – backed United, but Jenas was seemingly not entirely convinced of their credentials…

Do you think the Red Devils will be back in the Champions League again next year?

Check out the link below for more on that one…

Here’s a little look at the hosts arriving earlier on…

Forest have not actually won a match at home since November 5, in a marked change from their form at the City Ground last term.

They beat near-ish neighbours Aston Villa 2-0 that day, but have since lost to Brighton, Everton, Tottenham and Bournemouth, shipping nine goals in that period.

Can Espirito Santo stem the tide tonight?

Less than an hour to go until kick-off… who you backing for this one now we’ve seen the teams?

So that’s two changes for the hosts, with Dominguez and Yates in for Hudons-Odoi and Sangare to take on United tonight for Espirito Santo’s side.

The Red Devils make just the one change, with Hojlund out and Antony coming into the side, presumably slotting on on the wing with Rashford in at No 9.

Hojlund of course was ruled out with illness, and you can read more about that in the story linked below…

And the final XI for United in 2023 looks like this…

Here’s how the hosts will be lining up…

We’ve got team news coming up just round the corner which we will be bringing you as soon as it drops.

But we know that at least one starter from Boxing Day won’t be in the side for the visitors, with Hojlund out due to illness, as confirmed by the club.

United have not been firing on all cylinders this season – that’s for sure.

But one former club legend is predicting big things for the Red Devils in the new year, as they prepare to close out a mixed 2023 to say the least.

Where do you think the visitors will end up at the end of the season?

Check out what Ferdinand had to say about them below…

A look at the numbers should prove fun reading for the visitors.

In the last 11 meetings, United have won each and every clash since 1994.

In fact, the Red Devils have won each of the last four clashes at the City Ground by an aggregate score of 17-1.

Could be a busy night for whoevers in the home net tonight if the visitors can keep up that form…

So, as we’ve already mentioned there were big wins for these two last time out.

Chris Wood inspired Nottingham Forest to their first win of the Nuno Espirito Santo era against the New Zealand international’s former club Newcastle, with three of the best to get the Tricky Trees’ new dawn up and running.

Meanwhile Aston Villa went 2-0 up at Old Trafford only for an Alejandro Garnacho double and Rasmus Hojlund’s first goals in United colours to win a massive three points for Erik ten Hag’s side, although that pressure has never really receded from the manager’s doorstep.

With six goals between them last match, will we be in for a goal fest once more tonight?

The hosts are in the building already putting the final touches on their preparations…

At this point in the season, pretty much every team going has their injury problems.

Erik ten Hag is of the opinion that his side have been particularly ravaged by fitness issues, though, although there are a few faces set to return pretty soon.

The Dutchman believes no other club would have been able to deal with the blows his side have been getting in terms of injuries – are we buying that or do you reckon other teams have had a worse time of things?

You can check out more of what Ten Hag had to say down below…

A cloudy, cloudy old City Ground welcomes these two – let’s hope the weather holds off as long as possible!