Coach Erik ten Hag is facing a headache.

Manchester United host Nottingham Forest at home in the third round of the Premier League. A victory is a must for Erik ten Hag's team, given their lackluster performance this season. In their opening match, Man Utd narrowly beat Wolves in a game where they were in danger of conceding several goals. But Varane's header saved the Red Devils from a bitter defeat.

But luck was no longer on Bruno Fernandes' and his teammates' side when they faced Tottenham. The Portuguese midfielder still played well, but his efforts were not enough. Man Utd were completely outplayed by their opponents in the second half, and the defeat was understandable. The only thing Man Utd could "blame" was the referee's refusal to award them a penalty when the ball had clearly hit Romero's hand.

The objective was to beat Nottingham, but before even playing, Man Utd faced squad problems. Mason Mount and Luke Shaw were both injured and will be out for the next few weeks. Mount's absence didn't worry manager Erik ten Hag too much, as he still had Eriksen and McTominay.

But with Shaw unavailable, it presents a difficult problem both in terms of personnel and on-field performance. The reserve left-back, Malacia, is also unavailable. Man Utd typically build play from the left wing when Shaw and Martinez are present. Diogo Dalot is almost certainly the most viable option for Shaw's position, especially with Brandon Williams also considering his potential departure.

In such circumstances, securing three points against Nottingham Forest may not be an easy goal for the Old Trafford side. Nottingham Forest are not a strong team, but they are making a good first impression this season. Despite a 1-2 defeat against Arsenal on the opening day, Awoniyi and his teammates quickly found joy against newly promoted Sheffield.

Awoniyi is currently a shining star in Nottingham's attack. He has scored two goals in two matches. The Nigerian striker's fitness is unquestionable. He is more than capable of causing problems for Manchester United's already weak and unprotected defense.

Prediction: Man Utd 2-2 Nottingham

Predicted lineup:

Man Utd: Onana, Varane, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Martínez, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Eriksen, Rashford, Antony, Sancho.

Nottingham Forest: Turner, Aurier, Boly, McKenna, Worrall, Williams, Mangala, Gibbs-White, Danilo, Awoniyi, Johnson.

Mai Phuong

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