Nottingham Forest were once on the cusp of something special this season. For long stretches, they were genuine contenders for Champions League qualification. But as the campaign nears its conclusion, the spark that once lit their charge has fizzled out. Now sitting 7th with 62 points, their ambitions have been scaled back to a fight for a Europa Conference League berth.
West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest Preview
- Competition: Premier League – Matchweek 37
- Date: Sunday, 18 May 2025
- Kick-off Time: 2:15 PM BST (6:00 PM NPT)
- Venue: London Stadium, London
- West Ham United (last 5 games): D-L-L-L-D
- Nottingham Forest (last 5 games): W-L-W-D-W
- Last 5 Meetings: West Ham United wins 1, Nottingham Forest wins 4
- Where to Watch: Sky Sports (UK), fuboTV (USA), SuperSport (Africa)
With just 2 matches remaining, Forest’s path to Europe is narrow but not closed. They’re only 4 points adrift of 3rd-placed Newcastle—who face Arsenal in a heavyweight clash—and victories in their remaining games, coupled with dropped points from the teams that are sandwiched between them (Chelsea, Aston Villa and Manchester City), could still salvage their season.
First, they must get past a resurgent West Ham side on Sunday. The Hammers ended an eight-game winless run in style last weekend, stunning Manchester United with a 2-0 victory. That result has breathed life into a campaign that had been teetering toward mediocrity.
West Ham may be languishing in 15th place with 40 points, but with nothing to lose and confidence restored, they pose a serious threat to Forest’s dwindling hopes.
Interestingly, both teams share a similar patch of form heading into this encounter—just one win each from their last 5 league matches, with 2 draws and 2 defeats apiece. Forest’s inconsistency has been their undoing in recent weeks, while West Ham’s renewed spirit could make them dangerous spoilers.
Historically, West Ham have enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture, winning 6 of their last 10 meetings against Forest, who claimed the remaining 4.
The stakes are clear: Forest must win to stay in the European conversation. But with West Ham fired up and playing without pressure, another slip could be fatal to Forest’s continental hopes.
Injured Players
West Ham: C. Summerville and M. Antonio
Nottingham Forest: E. da Silva Moreira, Murillo, C. Hudson-Odoi and T. Awoniyi, according to Livescore.com.
