Get the most recent Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as three analysts talk about the team’s Premier League matchup versus Nottingham Forest.
Experts Paul Merson, Robbie Savage, and Chris Sutton predict that Aston Villa will easily defeat Nottingham Forest on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the City Ground.
In their Premier League matchup, Villa will want to make it seven games without a loss. While Forest is ranked sixteenth, they have not won since defeating Chelsea 1-0 in September.
Sutton and Savage both picked the same outcome going into the match, supporting Unai Emery’s team to win 2-0.
Sutton stated in an interview with BBC Sport: “I don’t think Aston Villa are having trouble beating anyone right now, but Nottingham Forest is tough to beat at home.
“Unai Emery’s team is playing so confidently and so well-positioned. They will be difficult for Forest to stop because they score a lot of goals.
In all honesty, I thought Stephen Warnock’s prediction that Villa would finish in the top four at the beginning of the season was a reach, but it’s not looking like such a horrible call right now.
“Forest has drawn four of their last six games, but they have not won any. They have fallen in the ranks as a result, but I don’t think they will be forced into the relegation struggle. They have more than enough to stay up, especially when compared to the clubs behind them.”
Sutton’s pick: Aston Villa 0–2 Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Savage stated to Football 365: “Aston Villa is playing well; they have won their last six games across all competitions and are scoring goals. Ollie Watkins is playing in top form, and Douglas Luiz is also having a great game; both players are important to them.
“Unai Emery has done a fantastic job. This is one that Nottingham Forest must win. One of the reasons they remained in the Premier League last season was their home form.
This year isn’t as good as last. They will be trying to win the game, but I don’t think they will. Although Aston Villa isn’t very good on the road, I believe they have enough to defeat Forest.”
Savage’s pick: Aston Villa 0–2 Nottingham Forest.
Merson also picked Emery’s team to win 3-1 in another place. “There’s no denying that this season, Aston Villa has been exceptional,” he said to SportsKeeda.
They are all willing to go without the ball and are playing free-flowing football, which is an obvious indication that they have adopted Unai Emery’s attitude. Douglas Luiz is now the Premier League’s most underappreciated midfield player, as I stated last week. The boy is quite capable and consistently shows up each week;
“Emery was extremely unlucky at Arsenal and rapidly fell behind the eight ball, but in just a year, he joined Villa and completely changed the team. Villa will likely remain in the top four for some time because of their upcoming schedule of games.”
Merson’s pick: Aston Villa 1-3 Nottingham Forest.
