Premier League Preview: Brighton vs Nottingham Forest - Analysis and Insights

An exciting Brighton squad welcomes Nottingham Forest to the Amex stadium on Sunday, in a stand-off between two so far unbeaten teams.

Both have impressed in picking up points in unlikely games; Brighton with a draw at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, and Nottingham Forest with a shock win over Liverpool at Anfield last weekend.

A draw would not be a disaster for either side, and would have the added bonus of maintaining both sides undefeated start to the season, but a win is crucial if either of them have their sights set on the top four places.

As a fascinating game edges closer, we take a dive into the details of both sides, investigating strategies, team news, key players and absences that could sway the match in their sides favor.

Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Standings

After Brighton showed bright early season form to win their first two games against Everton and Manchester United, their momentum seems to have halted slightly in recent weeks.

Hands up if you've won five of your last six #PL games against Manchester United... 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/ocKZee1WH1
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 25, 2024

A draw away to Arsenal was by no means a poor result, but they had opportunities to win after arsenal’s Declan Rice was sent off in the early knockings of the second half, and they will have been rueing their missed opportunities following the game.

While they could take credit away from the Emirates, the same could not be said following their 0-0 draw to newly promoted Ipswich Town. Brighton took 21 shots to the Tractor Boys’ 6, and had 70% of the possession, but despite a host of clear cut chances, they failed to make them pay, resulting in their second consecutive draw.

At the end of the season, they will look back on that game as two points dropped. However, every team needs a kick in the backside every once in a while, and that result could be the catalyst for Brighton to kick on.

One of the best teams outside of the big six in the past couple of seasons, Brighton have been threatening to break into the top four, and should they pull their act together after the draw to Ipswich, they could become a very dangerous opposition. They currently lie in sixth, and are one of five remaining unbeaten sides.

They also returned to winning ways in midweek, after a hard-fought 3-2 win against Wolves in the Carabao Cup.

Still thinking about Carlos' stunning goal and brilliant celebrations... 🥰 pic.twitter.com/mIAbybbXKE
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 20, 2024

While a quick start was somewhat expected of Brighton, Nottingham Forest have confounded their doubters by equalling that start, winning two and drawing two.

Surviving relegation with two games to spare last season, Forest invested heavily in their squad over the summer, bringing in the likes of club record signing Elliot Anderson from Newcastle, and set-piece master James Ward-Prowse on loan from West Ham, they are already reaping the rewards for such bold moves.

Despite scoring just four goals in as many games, it seems that last season's issue of a leaky defense has been addressed by Nuno Santo, and they are seeing the benefits almost immediately.

They drew 1-1 at home to Bournemouth on the opening day, and shared the spoils at home to Wolves by the same scoreline in gameweek three. Surprisingly, both of their victories so far this season have come away from home.

A shaky 1-0 win at struggling Southampton was more or less a predetermined result, but their stunning victory at Anfield cannot be given the same label. Forest were magnificent, both on the counter-attack and in the way they defended, and the goal from Callum Hudson-Odoi to win it was worthy of the performance.

Trademark Callum Hudson-Odoi 🤌

Our winning goal at Anfield 😍 pic.twitter.com/bfYzP75kbI
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) September 14, 2024

Sitting in 7th, equal on points with Brighton, forest fans would have bitten anyone’s hand off if they were offered this position four weeks into the season. The onus is now on them to make the most of their lofty start.

Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Recent Meetings

10/03/2024: Brighton 1-0 Forest.
25/11/2023: Forest 2-3 Brighton.
26/04/2023: Forest 3-0 Brighton.
18/10/2022: Brighton 0-0 Forest.
04/03/2017: Forest 3-0 Brighton.

Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Team News

Brighton currently have four key players ruled out. They lost summer signing Matt O’Riley to a horror tackle against Crawley on his debut, and fellow midfielders James Milner and Brajan Gruda are also out through injury. Winger Solly March is also not fit to play due to a knee injury.

However, there is good news, as star forward Joao Pedro looks set to make the squad this weekend after returning from international duty with a knock. He will likely be fit enough to start.

Forest are also missing two midfielders, the first being Danilo, who suffered a horrific broken leg after a seemingly innocuous aerial challenge in their season opener with Bournemouth. Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare are also out, but will be the subject of late fitness tests to decide whether they are fit enough to make the bench.

Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineups

Brighton (4-4-2): Verbruggen (GK), Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Minteh, Baleba, Ayari, Mitoma, Rutter, Welbeck.
Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels (GK), Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morena, Yates, Ward-Prowse, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.

Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Player to Watch

On current form, either side can feasibly win this, and a draw is more likely than not. However, Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White is one of the players who can single-handedly sway a game in his team's favor. A dynamic midfielder capable of playing deep or further up the field, Gibbs-White has been deployed in the CAM position so far this season to great effect.

While he has no goals or assists to his name thus far, his intelligence and movement make him a nightmare for defenders to track, and while his runs may not win him the ball, they create space for his other teammates to drift into.

Morgan Gibbs-White has created more chances from open play than any other player in the Premier League this season (11). 🪄 pic.twitter.com/2sbkL6XbQH
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 16, 2024

He also has an eye for a pass, and when a gap opens up, his piledriver of a right foot instills fear into any goalkeeper looking down the barrel. If Forest are to come away with anything from the Amex, you can guarantee that Gibbs-White will be at the heart of it.