Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 5/4

Bookmaker: Luckster

Fresh from recording a first, if largely symbolic, victory under Igor Tudor, Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League duty on Sunday still searching for their maiden league win of 2026 as they welcome relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

With just one place and one point separating the two sides near the foot of the table, the stakes could scarcely be higher, as defeat risks dragging either club beneath the ominous red line.

Tottenham Hotspur

For a brief moment, what had seemed an impossible mission began to resemble something achievable when Tottenham hosted Atlético Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last‑16 tie. That performance came just days after a hard‑earned draw away at reigning Premier League champions Liverpool, and optimism cautiously crept back into a fanbase that has endured months of frustration.

Spurs ultimately fell short of completing a remarkable turnaround against Diego Simeone’s side following their 5–2 first‑leg collapse, but the 3–2 victory on the night ended a prolonged winless run and injected a degree of belief into a squad that had appeared completely devoid of confidence. Holding Liverpool and then defeating Atlético in successive matches is a notable achievement for any club, and even more so for one battling to avoid relegation.

Despite that upturn, Tottenham’s domestic situation remains bleak. They sit 16th in the Premier League, just a single point clear of the bottom three, a position shaped by a 12‑match winless streak in the league stretching back to the turn of the year. That represents their longest such run in the top flight since 1935. Alarmingly, the last three teams to go winless in their first 12 Premier League matches of a calendar year all went on to be relegated, most recently Middlesbrough in the 2016–17 campaign.

Home form has offered little comfort either. Tottenham possess the worst home record in the division this season, collecting just 10 points from 15 matches, a statistic that underlines how precarious their situation has become.

Team News

There has, however, been a rare easing of injury concerns. Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Conor Gallagher, Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie all returned from injury or suspension during the Atlético second leg, while Richarlison is available again after serving a European ban. Dominic Solanke and João Palhinha were not involved midweek but are expected to return to contention.

Not all problems have disappeared, though. Yves Bissouma, Ben Davies, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain sidelined. One of the brighter notes came from Xavi Simons, who had been on the fringes under Tudor but made a powerful case for inclusion by scoring twice against Atlético. The Dutchman now looks certain to start on Sunday.

Nottingham Forest

While Tottenham’s European efforts ultimately proved fruitless, Nottingham Forest experienced a very different outcome. Vítor Pereira’s side managed to overturn a first‑leg deficit in the Europa League, edging past Midtjylland after a dramatic second leg. Goals from Nicolás Domínguez and Ryan Yates secured a 2–1 victory on the night, while Forest were also aided by what may go down as one of the worst penalty shootouts in European history, featuring two efforts against the woodwork and a slip reminiscent of John Terry’s infamous moment.

A quarter‑final trip to Porto now awaits, but attention must quickly return to the Premier League, where Forest’s struggles continue. They are winless in seven league matches, and last weekend’s goalless draw with Fulham left them hovering just above the relegation zone on goal difference alone.

That stalemate also marked Forest’s 14th league match this season in which they failed to score, a tally bettered only by Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, they will take encouragement from December’s emphatic 3–0 victory over Tottenham, part of a run that has seen the Tricky Trees win their last three league meetings with Spurs, including a 2–1 success in this fixture last season.

Team News

Forest’s injury list remains lengthy. Dilane Bakwa was unable to complete the full 90 minutes in midweek due to a minor issue, though there are no major concerns regarding his fitness. More troubling are the absences of Willy Boly, Jair Cunha, Chris Wood, Nicolò Savona and John Victor, all of whom are expected to remain sidelined until after the international break.

Pereira rotated heavily in Europe with survival firmly in mind, and key figures such as Murillo, Morgan Gibbs‑White, Elliot Anderson and Igor Jesus are expected to return to the starting lineup in North London. Callum Hudson‑Odoi’s availability remains uncertain after he was omitted from Thursday’s squad.

Conclusion

Whether Tudor’s recent success represents genuine progress or merely a temporary patch remains to be seen, but Tottenham are at least beginning to resemble a functional side again. Forest’s European exertions are unlikely to have a decisive impact given Pereira’s rotations, yet their continued struggles in front of goal are a concern.

With Spurs finally boasting greater attacking depth and renewed belief, there is reason to trust the hosts to end their long Premier League drought and claim a result that could prove pivotal in the battle for survival.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 5/4

Bookmaker: Luckster