Chelsea will hope to keep the winning momentum alive when they make the travels to Nottingham Forest on New Year’s day in the Premier League.
It will be a first league visit to Nottingham Forest for the Blues since 1999 and Graham Potter’s side will look to pick up another win on the bounce after tasting success in their return to top flight duties last time out.
Goals from Kai Havertz and Mason Mount secured a 2-0 win for Chelsea against AFC Bournemouth earlier in the week but remain eighth in the league standings, six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham but with a game in hand over their city rivals.
Forest, meanwhile, were handed a resounding 3-0 defeat by Manchester United which meant that the league’s boys sit in the drop zone and head into the upcoming contest as the underdogs with their form at the City Ground far from encouraging – with only four teams in the Premier League losing more times on home soil this season than Steve Cooper’s men.
Just four points separate them from Leicester City in 13th place who lost to Liverpool on Thursday night and Forest would be hoping to cause a major upset when they welcome top four hopefuls Chelsea to the City Ground to begin 2023.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Date – Monday 1 January 2023
Time – 5 PM GMT
Venue – City Ground
TEAM NEWS
Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech – who were granted an extended break following their World Cup duties – could be in line to return to the matchday squad for the game against Forest.
Kepa Arrizabalaga recovered from a foot issue in time to make the XI last time out and the Spaniard should be seen slotting between the goalposts in the upcoming game.
Reece James is now out for up to a month with a recurring knee injury that sidelined him for the World Cup and looks likely to keep him out until early next year.
Summer signing Wesley Fofana is another injury concern for Graham Potter and the former is not expected to be available for selection on Monday.
KEY BATTLE
Taiwo Awoniyi vs Kai Havertz
Awoniyi would be Forest’s ever-present threat in front of the goal and he could prove to be a handful for a Chelsea backline that was rarely tested by Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge earlier in the week.
For Chelsea, who remain on the search for a new attacker to reinforce their misfiring front line, Kai Havertz was at his brilliant best in the win over the Cherries and the German forward will hope to replicate that form when he steps out on the pitch against Forest.
MATCH PREDICTION
Chelsea are the favourites for the upcoming tie with Graham Potter’s men backed to maintain their winning ways against the relegation candidates Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest 1-3 Chelsea
