Sunday’s Premier League programme kicks off at Old Trafford as Manchester United and Nottingham Forest lock horns in the penultimate round of the 2025/26 season.
With a top-five finish already in the bag, Michael Carrick can now calmly focus on steering United to their first third-place finish since 2022/23, as they sit six points clear of fourth-placed Liverpool after last weekend’s draw.
In one of Man Utd’s weakest attacking performances under the 44-year-old, Sunderland held the Red Devils to a scoreless stalemate at the Stadium of Light, restricting them to a disappointing 0.57 xG.
On a more positive note, Carrick’s side registered only their second clean sheet in their last nine league outings, as they wait for Matthijs de Ligt’s return from a lengthy injury lay-off.
However, the Dutchman will not rejoin the squad before the early stages of the 2026/27 campaign after undergoing surgery to address his niggling back problem.
Job almost done
A point in what could be Carrick’s Old Trafford farewell will be enough to seal a third-place finish, but Man Utd are seeking a strong end to the season despite their toothless performance in Tyne and Wear last time out.
There’s hardly a better place than the Theatre of Dreams for United to rediscover their attacking spark, as they’ve won seven of their eight home league matches since Carrick’s arrival in January (L1).
Furthermore, they will be aiming to extend a strong run of form, having suffered just one defeat in their last 18 home league fixtures at the end of the season, recording 13 wins and four draws in that period.
At the same time, the Red Devils could secure back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since September 2024, though it would require them to end a poor run of conceding in five straight home games.
Whether Forest could throw a spanner in the works remains to be seen, but the recent history of this fixture suggests Man Utd cannot afford to underestimate their upcoming rivals.
United squandered a narrow half-time lead in a goal-laden 2-2 draw in November’s reverse clash at the City Ground, stretching their winless run against the Tricky Trees to four Premier League matches (D1, L3).
No pressure
After a stunning 3-2 triumph on their last visit to Old Trafford in December 2024, Forest could beat United in consecutive league meetings at this venue for the first time since the early 1990s.
Neutralising five-time Man Utd ‘Player of the Season’ Bruno Fernandes would go a long way to achieving that long-awaited feat, as the visitors look to build upon their late-season resurgence.
Last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle United did not just extend Forest’s unbeaten league streak to eight games (W4, D4). It also helped them stave off relegation fears heading into the season finale.
Therefore, Vitor Pereira’s men ought to take the field in high spirits, especially now that they’re riding on the club’s longest unbeaten run in the Premier League since the 1995/96 season.
Despite four managerial changes this season, they’ve managed to maintain a decent away form throughout the campaign, picking up 24 of their 43 points on the road.
With only seven teams outshining Forest’s away tally, it is reasonable to expect the visitors to target a third successive victory in their final away league fixture of the season.
Prediction
With nothing but pride left to play for, Forest could give Man Utd a run for their money, but this is United’s game to lose.
Although another clean sheet is far from a foregone conclusion, Carrick’s charges should have just enough quality and momentum at Old Trafford to secure a strong finish to the campaign.
Manchester United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
2026-05-15 15:33:05
