Aston Villa return to Villa Park for their first match of 2026 on Saturday lunchtime.
The Lions want to reignite their momentum after a bruising midweek encounter in North London. Specifically, Unai Emery’s side saw their sensational 11-game winning streak in all competitions halted by a clinical Arsenal side on Tuesday. Despite that 4-1 hammering, they remain third in the Premier League table and firmly in the Champions League hunt.
They face a Nottingham Forest side that ended 2025 on a downward spiral. Sean Dyche’s men have suffered three consecutive defeats, including a disappointing home loss to Everton most recently. Consequently, while they sit four points clear of the relegation zone, they must find a way to sharpen a blunt attack. Forest have failed to score in a league-high 10 different games this season and have netted only 18 goals in total.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Saturday, 3 January 2026
- Kick-off: 12:30 GMT
- Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
- Referee: Simon Hooper
- VAR: Paul Howard
- Last Meeting: Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest, 5 April 2025
Team News
Aston Villa
Unai Emery receives a significant double boost as Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara return to the squad. Both players missed the defeat at Arsenal while serving one-match suspensions. However, the midfield remains a concern as Amadou Onana is ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury against the Gunners.
Evann Guessand remains unavailable due to the Africa Cup of Nations duty with the Ivory Coast. Furthermore, January signing Alysson is also ineligible. Defensive stalwarts Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings are nearing a return but remain sidelined alongside Ross Barkley and Harvey Elliott. Victor Lindelöf will likely continue to deputise in central defence.
Nottingham Forest
The visitors are hopeful that Swiss attacker Dan Ndoye can feature despite a minor fitness issue. However, the injury list remains lengthy for Sean Dyche. Chris Wood, Ola Aina, and Ryan Yates are all ruled out with various knee and thigh problems. AFCON commitments also deprive the squad of Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangaré. Meanwhile, Nicolò Savona is pushing for a start in defence after the recent loss to Everton.
Form
Aston Villa
Villa Park has become a genuine fortress under Unai Emery. The Lions have won 10 consecutive home games in all competitions. If they win on Saturday, they will mark their best home run since 1990. Ollie Watkins has found his shooting boots with three goals in his last two games. Nevertheless, he is still searching for his first home league goal since September.
Nottingham Forest
The Tricky Trees have struggled significantly in recent weeks, losing their last three league fixtures. Historically, they have a poor record at this venue, remaining winless at Villa Park in the Premier League for over 30 years. However, Forest have won five of their last seven opening games of a calendar year. Morgan Gibbs-White remains their primary threat, having top-scored with three goals this season.
Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Malen; Watkins
Nottingham Forest predicted XI: Victor; Savona, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Anderson, Dominguez; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
How to watch Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage begins at 11:30 GMT ahead of the 12:30 kick-off.
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