Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Predictions, Betting Pick, and Team News

Aston Villa, currently third in the Premier League, welcome Nottingham Forest, who sit in 17th, to Villa Park on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026 at 7:30 a.m. ET. The Villains will be looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat, while Forest are desperate to climb away from the relegation zone.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Form

Aston Villa lost their last match 4-1 away to Arsenal. Prior to that defeat, the Villains had been in excellent form, winning 11 consecutive games in all competitions.

Nottingham Forest suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Everton in their most recent game. The Tricky Trees have lost their last three games in the Premier League.

Notably, there have been over 2.5 goals scored in Aston Villa's last six Premier League games.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Head to Head

The last time these two teams met, Aston Villa won 2-1 at Villa Park in April 2025. In the six previous meetings, Aston Villa have won three games, Nottingham Forest have won two, and there has been one draw. Aston Villa have won their last three home games against Nottingham Forest in all competitions.

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Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Odds

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Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Probable Lineups

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Maatsen, Lindelöf, Konsa, Cash; Tielemans, Kamara; Rogers, Buendía, McGinn; Watkins

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Victor; Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Zinchenko; Anderson, Luiz; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Jesus

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Team News

Aston Villa will be without Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, and Pau Torres due to injury. Evann Guessand is also unavailable due to international duty. Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash are available again after serving their bans for the Arsenal game. John McGinn is expected to start, having played only the second half in the previous match, while Ollie Watkins should lead the line.

Nottingham Forest are missing Ola Aina, Ryan Yates, and Chris Wood through injury. Ibrahim Sangaré and Willy Boly are still on international duty. Douglas Luiz could start after featuring in the second half against Everton, potentially replacing Nicolas Dominguez.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Match Facts

• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Aston Villa's last 6 games in the Premier League.
• Aston Villa have scored at least 2 goals in their last 6 home matches against Nottingham Forest in all competitions.
• Aston Villa have won their last 3 home matches against Nottingham Forest in all competitions.
• Aston Villa have seen over 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 6 home matches against Nottingham Forest in all competitions.
• Nottingham Forest have lost their last 3 matches in the Premier League.

Prediction: Aston Villa 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Despite their recent 4-1 defeat at Arsenal, Aston Villa are strong at home, where they have won seven of their nine Premier League games this season. Their attacking strengths, including coming back from losing positions, attacking down the wings, and creating long-shot opportunities, should pose problems for Nottingham Forest. The visitors, on the other hand, have struggled defensively, particularly with defending against long shots and set pieces. Given Villa's home form and Forest's defensive frailties, a 3-1 victory for the home team is our prediction.

Best Bet: Villa to Win and Over 2.5 Goals (+175) Click here to get the best odds from FanDuel Sportsbook

Given the fact that there have been over 2.5 goals scored in Aston Villa's last six Premier League games, and the home team's record of scoring at least two goals in their last six home matches against Nottingham Forest, backing a Villa win and over 2.5 goals in the game looks a solid bet.