Forest vs Crystall Palace

The tension at the bottom of the Premier League table reaches a boiling point today, Sunday, February 1, 2026, as Nottingham Forest hosts Crystal Palace. Kick-off is set for 14:00 GMT.

In a season defined by fine margins, this fixture represents more than just three points. For Sean Dyche’s Forest (17th, 25 points), it is an opportunity to draw level with their visitors and escape the immediate shadow of the drop zone. For Oliver Glasner’s Palace (15th, 28 points), it is a desperate quest to halt an 11-match winless slide that has seen the FA Cup holders plummet toward danger.

Match Information

Nottingham Forest: The Dyche Effect Takes Hold

Since Sean Dyche took the helm, the "Tricky Trees" have prioritized defensive solidity over all else. Forest arrives buoyed by a fantastic week: a gritty 2–0 win at Brentford followed by a resounding 4–0 Europa League triumph over Ferencváros.

Team News and Selection:

• Midfield Return: Elliot Anderson is back in the starting XI after serving a European suspension midweek.

• Striker Watch: With Chris Wood still sidelined by a long-term knee injury, the in-form Igor Jesus will lead the line, supported by the creative spark of Morgan Gibbs-White.

• Defensive Wall: Forest is hunting for a third consecutive Premier League clean sheet—a feat they haven't achieved in over a year.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangaré; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Domínguez; Igor Jesus.

Crystal Palace: A Crisis of Confidence

The Eagles are in freefall. Despite their historic FA Cup win last May, Palace has struggled immensely in 2026, failing to win a single match since early December. The lack of clinical finishing has been their undoing; statistically, they possess the league's worst open-play xG difference.

Team News and Selection:

• Mateta Omitted: In a shock move, Jean-Philippe Mateta has been left out of the squad. Manager Oliver Glasner stated the striker "doesn't feel in the right place to play" amid ongoing transfer speculation.

• Wharton Suspended: The midfield loses its heartbeat as Adam Wharton serves a one-match ban. Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes will likely anchor the center.

• Clyne Returns: Experienced defender Nathaniel Clyne is back in the squad, though Daichi Kamada remains a week away from fitness.

• Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Riad; Muñoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Johnson, Pino; Sarr.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• The Bogey Team: Crystal Palace has never won a Premier League game against Nottingham Forest in 11 attempts (D7, L4)

• Home Comforts: Forest is unbeaten in their last two home league games, including a 0–0 draw against league leaders Arsenal.

• Goal Drought: Palace has scored just four goals in the Premier League since Matchday 16, the lowest in the division.

• Draw Specialists: Five of the last six meetings between these two sides have ended in a draw.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

This will be a classic "unstoppable force meets immovable object" scenario—except the "force" here is a Palace attack struggling for rhythm. Dyche will likely set Forest up in a compact mid-block, inviting Palace to have the ball and then punishing them on the break through the pace of Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Without Mateta and Wharton, Palace lacks both their primary finisher and their primary progressor. If Forest can maintain the defensive discipline shown in recent weeks, the atmosphere at the City Ground should carry them to a vital victory.

Final Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1–0 Crystal Palace