The City Ground plays host to a crucial Premier League encounter on Sunday as Nottingham Forest look to capitalise on their recent momentum against a Crystal Palace side desperate to halt a damaging slide toward the relegation zone.
While Sean Dyche’s men arrive buoyed by a resounding 4–0 Europa League triumph over Ferencváros and a three-match unbeaten run in the league, Palace are enduring a mid-season crisis. The Eagles have not tasted victory in any competition since early December, a run of 11 matches that has left them just three places above the drop zone. For Forest, a win would see them draw level on points with their visitors, potentially dragging the FA Cup holders into a survival battle.
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace – Match preview and team news
Date: Sunday, 1 February 2026
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
Venue: The City Ground, Nottingham
Referee: Michael Salisbury
VAR: Tony Harrington
Last Meeting: Crystal Palace 1–1 Nottingham Forest (24 Aug 2025), Premier League
Team News
Nottingham Forest
Sean Dyche is expected to welcome Elliot Anderson back into the starting XI following his suspension in the Europa League. However, the Reds remain without the services of Chris Wood, Nicolo Savona, and John Victor, all of whom are sidelined with knee injuries. Igor Jesus is set to lead the line after finding the net in last weekend’s vital win at Brentford.
Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner faces a significant selection headache as Jean-Philippe Mateta will not be in the squad; the manager cited that the striker “doesn’t feel in the right place right now to play”. Adam Wharton is suspended, and Justin Devenny is out for up to a month with an ankle injury. In better news, Nathaniel Clyne returns to the squad, though Daichi Kamada and Borna Sosa remain unavailable.
Form
Nottingham Forest
Forest have finally found their footing, collecting seven points from their last three league games—more than they managed in their previous eight matches combined. Their recent domestic results include a gritty 2–0 win at Brentford and a 1–1 draw with high-flying Newcastle.
Notably, the side is aiming for a third consecutive clean sheet in the Premier League for the first time in over a year. Dyche’s side has also mastered the art of the late introduction; Taiwo Awoniyi has made a club record 48 substitute appearances, netting four goals from the bench.
Crystal Palace
The Eagles are in freefall, having won the fewest points (2) and scored the fewest goals (4) in the division since Matchday 16. Recent results include a demoralising 3–1 home defeat to Chelsea and a 2–0 loss at Everton. Notably, Palace have never won a Premier League game against Forest in 11 previous attempts (D7 L4). Despite creating an open-play xG of 22.8, they have converted just 10 times, giving them the league’s worst open-play xG difference (-12.8).
Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest Predicted XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Igor Jesus
