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Harry Redknapp believes the margins will be far tighter than when Tottenham Hotspur takes on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday.

Thomas Frank’s side have enjoyed an upturn in results in recent weeks, with back-to-back wins arriving across the Premier League and the Champions League, easing some of the pressure that had been building in north London.

However, the Premier League offers little margin for error, and this weekend Spurs travel to the City Ground to face a Nottingham Forest side sat in 17th place, desperate to drag themselves away from trouble.

Over the last month, Tottenham’s top-four ambitions took a noticeable hit after a winless league run, but a strong set of performances this month could see Frank’s side get back on track.

Harry Redknapp predicts score for Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has weighed in on the weekend’s action, and while acknowledging Spurs’ timely return to form, he has stopped short of backing them to take all three points away from home.

Speaking to BetVictor, he said: “Forest 1-1 Spurs,” Redknapp said. “Sean Dyche was disappointed with the result and performance at Everton last week. That was out of character for Forest of late, they have looked good.”

“Boy did Spurs need that win over Brentford, they were having such a tricky month. This will be a real test of them though. I am picking the draw.

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“One to watch – Elliot Anderson is having the best season of his career, and this is the sort of game he can make a real impact in. Ironically, he is the sort of player Spurs could do with in midfield.”

Thomas Frank faces tactical test at the City Ground

Thomas Frank’s team selection could quickly turn a 1-1 draw into a victory for Tottenham at the City Ground, particularly if Spurs approach the contest with confidence rather than caution.

The Dane may be tempted to set his side up to neutralise Forest’s strengths, but an overly conservative plan risks blunting Tottenham’s own attacking threat.

Tottenham are at their best when they dictate games with aggression and tempo, and if Frank can get his side playing with that attacking edge on Sunday, Spurs will believe they can leave Nottingham with more than just a point.

Chris Waddle does not think it would make sense for Tottenham to sign a big-name English forward whom they have reportedly made advances towards.

It has been widely reported that Tottenham will prioritise strengthening their attack over the next couple of transfer windows, and one England international is thought to be on their radar.

It first emerged last month that Spurs had held a discreet meeting with Marcus Rashford’s representatives regarding a switch to North London next summer.

Just a few days ago, it was reported by Fichajes that Barcelona may not have the financial means to sign Rashford permanently, and that Spurs had promised the Man United star a leading role under Thomas Frank to convince him to come to N17.

Chris Waddle claims Tottenham do not need Marcus Rashford

Thomas Frank recently hinted that none of his left-wing options have impressed sufficiently this season, and that statement came amidst an increasing number of reports suggesting that Spurs are eyeing various wide-forwards in January.

However, Waddle does not think Tottenham need another left-sided attacker and suggested that Rashford’s lack of consistency is a red flag.

The former Spurs midfielder told WhichBookie: “Tottenham have failed to replace Harry Kane. They now seem to be too interested in only signing young players like Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert and trying to develop them. It’s about time they started signing ready-made players.

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“They have been linked with Marcus Rashford, and although he’s better than what they’ve got, I’m not too sure they really need another left-winger. He’s not shown enough in the Premier League for Manchester United. He had one good season a few years ago, but apart from that, he’s been quite inconsistent. I personally wouldn’t be trying to sign him.”

Waddle urges Spurs to prioritise Premier League experience

While Waddle does not want Rashford at N17, he believes that his former club should prioritise signings who have proven themselves in England.

The 64-year-old believes that Thomas Frank’s men need readymade signings rather than project players.

He added: “Spurs should be looking at somebody who is proven in this league. They shouldn’t be put off trying to sign players from other Premier League clubs who have performed well.

“I know they’ll be doing their scouting far and wide across Europe and elsewhere, but sometimes I think they just need to buy somebody who is ready-made for the league and is already performing week in, week out.”

Thomas Tuchel’s feelings regarding a 29-year-old England international may end up making it impossible for Tottenham to secure a deal for the player in January.

Several outlets continue to suggest that Spurs want to add a top-class number nine to their squad in January.

The striker who has been most heavily linked with a move to N17 is Ivan Toney, whom Tottenham allegedly want to replace Richarlison with in their squad.

Over recent weeks, a number of sources have suggested Toney is unlikely to leave Al-Ahli in January despite being the subject of enquiries from English clubs, and it looks like the fail nail in the coffin could come from the England boss.

Thomas Tuchel’s Ivan Toney misgivings may cost Tottenham

TEAMtalk say that Spurs have indeed held talks with the former Brentford striker, as have West Ham and Everton.

Toney would have to make a significant financial sacrifice to return to England in January, and the only reason he is willing to do that is to improve his prospects of being in the Three Lions squad for next summer’s World Cup.

However, it is revealed that Thomas Tuchel was not impressed by the 29-year-old in his previous training camp.

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Sources close to the player believe that his chances of being in the World Cup are hanging by a thread, which means that a return to English football may be in vain.

What Toney’s camp feels about a return to the Premier League

TEAMtalk say that Toney and his camp are not anticipating a return to the England squad under Tuchel.

As a result, the Tottenham Hotspur target is reluctant to lose out on his mammoth wages in Saudi Arabia and to take on the additional tax burden involved with a return to the Premier League in January.

Despite the talks taking place between the striker’s camp and English clubs, all signs currently point to him remaining with Al-Ahli until the end of the season.

Tottenham could be set for another coaching shake-up, as one key member of Thomas Frank’s staff is now being lined up for a major role abroad.

The MLS has turned to the home of a few Tottenham Hotspur stars in recent years, with several players leaving Spurs for America.

Heung-min Son was the latest to make the switch, following in the footsteps of Hugo Lloris, who currently plies his trade there as well.

A new Spurs man could very soon be making the MLS their home once again, according to the latest reports, which suggest interest in another figure from within the club.

Tottenham assistant Matt Wells set for MLS move with Colorado Rapids

This report comes from The Athletic, who claim that the Colorado Rapids are set to name Tottenham assistant Matt Wells as their next head coach.

Wells has spent ample time in north London, working under Ange Postecoglou and is currently assistant to Thomas Frank.

The Rapids narrowly missed the playoffs in 2025 under outgoing head coach Chris Armas. It is understood that the American side interviewed several candidates, both domestic and abroad, but it is believed that they have landed on Wells, who has been aligned with the Rapids’ early offseason moves.

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The Tottenham man, 37, is set to be one of the youngest head coaches in MLS in 2026, with Minnesota United’s Eric Ramsay, 34, currently the youngest.

Why Matt Wells’ move could benefit Tottenham

It is not entirely new to see assistant coaches go on to bigger things, and Wells’ move could work in favour of Tottenham.

Should the 37-year-old go out and gather loads of experience, it could place him in contention for a future Tottenham opening if he develops into a top-level coach.

A former Chelsea winger believes that Xavi Simons was right in choosing to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium rather than Stamford Bridge.

It initially looked like the attacking midfielder was on his way to the West London club in the summer. In fact, at one point, it was even reported that Chelsea had agreed personal terms with Xavi.

Xavi’s agent confirmed that there was ‘genuine interest’ from the Blues, but explained that the Tottenham project really appealed to the Dutchman.

Just a few weeks ago, some pundits were suggesting that Spurs had wasted the £51m they spent on the Netherlands international, but the 22-year-old has silenced his critics with his last two performances.

Former Chelsea star believes Xavi Simons will be happy with Tottenham decision

The former RB Leipzig man has delivered two back-to-back Man of the Match performances against Brentford and Slavia Prague, and appears to have turned a corner.

Former Blues star Bolo Zenden believes that Xavi’s decision to move to the North London club over Enzo Marseca’s side is now being vindicated.

Zenden told BetVictor: “I don’t know how close he was to signing for Chelsea – I think as a player you always have to see where you have the most chance of playing, where you think you can develop most, and you only develop if you’re playing.

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“I think Xavi Simons is happy at Spurs. It’s a big club, big team, fantastic stadium, and the training facilities are second to none. Of course, he probably made the right decision. If you go to a team, you have to look at what the manager likes, their view on how to play, and if it fits you as a player.

“I wasn’t sure when I saw him at Tottenham if he was playing as a nine or as a 10? Has he got a bit of a free role in there? And maybe that’s something that suits him best.

“Who knows what would’ve happened if he signed for Chelsea? He maybe wouldn’t have that sort of freedom that he gets now at Spurs. It’s always difficult to make certain decisions, but it’s always nice when it works out well. And I think the people at Spurs are happy that he’s there at the moment.”

Has Xavi made the number 10 role at Spurs his own?

Interestingly, since his arrival at the club in the summer, Tottenham have not won a game where Xavi has not started.

During the last two games, the 22-year-old showed exactly what Spurs were missing in the middle of the park, especially at home against teams that defend deep.

The Netherlands international has more than earned a run of starts in the number ten role, and Tottenham fans will be hoping that he goes from strength to strength.

Journalist and talkSPORT presenter Jeff Stelling expects reality to set in at Tottenham on Sunday after two back-to-back victories.

Thomas Frank was under immense pressure until last week, but two comprehensive wins at home against Brentford and Slavia Prague have changed the mood around the club.

There is now cautious optimism among Tottenham Hotspur fans, who will be hoping that their team can now string a run of wins together.

Up next is a trip to City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest, which will be viewed as a winnable game by Spurs, given that Forest are just two points off the drop zone.

Jeff Stelling expects Nottingham Forest to beat Tottenham

Opta’s supercomputer considers Spurs marginal favourites at the City Ground, but Stelling disagrees.

The presenter expects Sean Dyche’s men to hand Tottenham their second away Premier League defeat in three matches.

Stelling told talkSPORT: “Despite Dyche’s arrival at Forest, they’re still in trouble,” he told talkSPORT. “I think they’ll certainly get out of it, but they have to travel to Europe in midweek, while Spurs stayed at home.

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“Xavi Simons has finally come to the party as far as Tottenham are concerned, but Forest did the double in this fixture last season and I think they can just shade this one again.”

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Tottenham

Competition for places is intensifying at Spurs

Thomas Frank has not been shy of rotating his squad over the last month, and many players who have come into the team have delivered strong performances.

There will certainly be a hunger among the midfielders and forwards to prove their mettle and establish themselves as regulars in the starting eleven.

Xavi Simons has revealed which Premier League player surprised him the most when he played against them for Tottenham Hotspur.

There was a lot of optimism when Xavi Simons made the switch from RB Leipzig to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £51m.

However, the midfielder struggled in his opening matches for the club, causing a pile-on from the ever-critical English press.

This has allowed Simons to surprise people in the past couple of weeks with some brilliant performances, and according to the 22-year-old, he himself has been surprised by a player Spurs have come up against.

Xavi Simons lauds Everton midfielder James Garner

Simons has recently made an appearance on The Wayne Rooney Show, and he was asked if there are any players he has faced in the Premier League who have surprised him.

He responded: “The one that surprised me was, I guess Everton, was I knew because of the youth teams he played in Manchester United, James Garner.

“He’s older than me, but I knew. Now, when I played against him, I felt like, okay, technically with the ball he is, I think he’s really good.”

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Tottenham thrashed Everton 3-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in October, but Garner has been playing well for the team who sit four places above Spurs in the Premier League table.

Simons has been impressive for Tottenham too

While Simons has heaped praise on Garner, there are likely a few players who have been left impressed by the Spurs attacker.

Simons might not have made the best start at Tottenham, but he seems to get better every time he plays, and other players in the league will notice this soon enough.

Xavi Simons has revealed why he wanted to join Tottenham and his comments might not go down well with players in other European countries.

Tottenham Hotspur have not been very consistent in the Premier League since the days of Mauricio Pochettino, yet the North London side remain an attractive destination.

Spurs have a world-class stadium and training facilities and are the reigning champions of the Europa League. It is therefore unsurprising that some big names were brought to the club last summer, including Simons.

The Dutch midfielder has spoken positively about Tottenham when explaining why he decided to make the move from RB Leipzig. As well as this, he has revealed something about why the English top flight in particular was where he wished to end up.

Xavi Simons waxes lyrical about Tottenham and the Premier League

Simons has made an appearance on The Wayne Rooney Show to discuss his move to England and he has described the project at Spurs as ‘really exciting’.

As well as this, the 22-year-old has said something about the Premier League which his former teammates and rivals in the Bundesliga will not appreciate.

Xavi Simons said: “I wanted to play in the best league in the world and prove to myself I could do it.

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“That is the motivation I’ve always had. With no disrespect to any other league, there is everything here – technical players, physical players and tactical coaches.

“The project at Tottenham is really exciting too. We have a lot of good, young players in the squad and that is what got me most excited.

“I want to win titles this year and I want to compete for everything, so this was the right decision for me.”

In order to be a success in the best league football has to offer, Simons has to be mentally strong. When asked about having a strong mindset at such a young age, he replied: “The mentality I have is because of my mum. I have the same mentality as her.

“If I had to describe my mindset in one word, it would be discipline. I never negotiate with myself and I know what I have to give up to get to where I want to be.

“A lot of things can happen to you as a footballer, in a positive way and a negative way, but the one thing you have to keep is discipline. That is a non-negotiable for me.

“Every day I wake up and say to myself: ‘I need to stand up. Today is a new day and a new journey.'”

Simons has shown resilience at Spurs

Life in North London has already faced Xavi Simons with a host of obstacles to navigate and he has already had to spend more than his fair share of time on the Tottenham bench.

However, Thomas Frank has been full of praise for Simons, as the midfield maestro has upped his game and delivered strong performances in recent weeks.

With both a strong mindset and excellent footballing abilities, Simons has the potential to go a long way at Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur will hope to make it 3 wins in a row when they face Nottingham Forest away on Sunday.

Thomas Frank and his players turn their attention back to the Premier League following their midweek 3-0 Champions League win against Slavia Prague. It’s a regained-momentum Tottenham team that went winless through the whole of November but are now unbeaten in their last 3 in all competitions.

Despite that upturn, Spurs still sit in the bottom half of the table with 22 points from 15 matches, only made better by the 2-0 win against Brentford at the weekend.

Over at the City Ground, Sean Dyche has steadied things at a club that had already gone through two managers before him this season. After spending large stretches of this campaign in the relegation zone, Dyche has managed to drag them up to 17th. Their 3-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend was responded to well with a 1-2 away win over FC Utrecht in the Europa League on Wednesday.

What time does Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur kick off?

Location: Nottinghamshire, England

Stadium: The City Ground

Date: Sunday, 14 December 2025

Kick-off time: 2 pm BST

Referee: Sam Barrott

VAR: Andrew Madley

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head-to-head record

Having lost six consecutive Premier League games against Spurs between 1998 and 2024, Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest pulled off a surprise league double last season, their first ever against Tottenham.

Their only other win came in the 2022 Carabao Cup, where Forest beat Antonio Conte’s Spurs 2-0. That said, every other meeting since Forest returned to the top flight has ended in a Tottenham win.

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Tottenham team news

Thomas Frank shared some tough news this week, confirming that Destiny Udogie is ruled out until next year at least. That leaves Spurs short of natural full-back options.

On a brighter note, Ben Davies made his return from injury in the 3-0 win against Slavia Prague and even slotted in at left-back, suggesting that this is something Frank wants to try for this match.

Frank also revealed that Brennan Johnson was “touch and go” for midweek, but the Welshman didn’t make the squad, so we’ll have to see what Frank says about him on Saturday.

Radu Dragușin and Kota Takai have been building fitness with the U21s, and either could make a matchday squad for the first time this season. The confirmed absentees remain Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, and Dejan Kulusevski.

Nottingham Forest team news

Matz Sels missed the Europa League win with a groin issue, leaving his involvement in doubt. If Dyche confirms his absence, he becomes the second injured Forest goalkeeper after Angus Gunn.

Forest are still dealing with a long list of injuries, including last season’s top scorer Chris Wood, Taiwo Awoniyi, captain Ryan Yates, and Ola Aina.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario, Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies, Bentancur, Simons, Bergvall, Kudus, Kolo Muani, Odobert

Our prediction

For years, Spurs barely had a storyline with Forest, given that Tottenham won almost every time, and there wasn’t the slightest bit of rivalry.

This season has changed the mood completely, starting with Spurs triggering Morgan Gibbs-White’s release clause and even scheduling his medical. However, a list of stubborn hurdles placed by their chairman, Evangelos Marinakis, saw the deal collapse. That frustration only grew when Forest sacked Spurs’ own Europa League-winning manager Ange Postecoglou, after just eight matches in charge for them.

That’s why Gibbs-White will be the obvious man to watch, as Spurs’ missed targets have had a habit of haunting them this season.

From a Tottenham perspective, keep an eye on Xavi Simons. He scored his first goal for the club last weekend and added another from the penalty spot in midweek. His link-up with Odobert against Murillo and Milenkovic could decide how smoothly Spurs attack.

Given Forest’s inconsistencies and Spurs’ renewed confidence, we expect Tottenham to manage this one well.

Paul Merson has made his prediction for Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest, but the ex-Arsenal player has failed to explain why he expects the result he has gone for.

Tottenham Hotspur have finally found some form, with a draw at St James’ Park followed by recent victories over Brentford and Slavia Prague.

Critics will argue that this is not merely down to Thomas Frank and his team. Instead, it is due to the nature of the opponents they have faced.

However, even with this logic applied, Spurs should feel confident coming up against a Nottingham Forest side that sit 17th in the Premier League table.

Paul Merson predicts a Tottenham defeat to Forest

Paul Merson has made his weekly Premier League predictions and he has acknowledged how Spurs have improved in recent weeks.

He has been less positive about Nottingham Forest, describing the East Midlands outfit as ‘inconsistent’ in the top flight.

Despite this assessment, Merson has bizarrely predicted a defeat for Tottenham this weekend without giving his reasoning.

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He told Sportskeeda: “Nottingham Forest have become a bit inconsistent now. After that impressive win against Liverpool, Sean Dyche’s men have lost two out of their next three league games.

“Tottenham, on the other hand, have had consecutive wins at home. It’s a good sign if you’re a Spurs fan because they have struggled to get results on home turf this season.

“If they don’t get a result against Forest, Tottenham could end up staying in the bottom half of the table. But if they win and Chelsea lose, they have the chance to go above the Blues. That’s how tight it is in the points table now, madness when you think of it!”

Merson’s prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs could rise up the Premier League table with a victory

If Merson is correct, Tottenham could finish the weekend as low as 13th. However, a win over Nottingham Forest could see them re-enter the European spots.

Therefore, it is of great importance that Spurs are able to continue their winning run and claim all three points on Sunday.