Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham LIVE
Spurs are back in Premier League action today hoping to cap off a fine week with a third win in a row. Thomas Frank appears to have recovered from a tough end to November - which saw defeats to Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Fulham - with much-improved performances, and results, against Newcastle, Brentford and Slavia Prague. Now they are in Nottingham.
These two teams were embroiled in a bitter transfer spat during the summer, prompted by Spurs triggering star player Morgan Gibbs-White’s release clause. Forest took it badly, ceased all communication with Spurs and, a week later, the player had signed a new contract. Chairman Daniel Levy has since left Spurs, but animosity between the club could well remain.
Forest have had a tough start to the season, toiling down in 17th, but under Sean Dyche - their third manager of the campaign - have settled the ship. Spurs are up to the heady heights of 11th after a long-overdue home win. Their away form has been much better, and another three points could see them close the gap on fifth to one point. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham latest news
- GOAL! Sangare stunner puts result to bed
- GOAL! Hudson-Odoi at the double
- GOAL! Hudson-Odoi scores gift-wrapped goal
Full-time
15:54 , Alex Young97min: A disgraceful display from Spurs. Forest were sublime, but were allowed to be.
Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham
15:49 , Alex Young91min: Five minutes added on.
Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham
15:43 , Alex Young85min: Porro drags down a Forest player. He’s clearly very frustrated.
Forest bring on Luiz.
Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham
15:41 , Alex Young83min: Forest fans ‘ole’-ing every pass.
Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham
15:40 , Alex Young82min: Hudson-Odoi still desperate to complete a hat-trick. Spurs waiting for the full-time whistle.
Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham
15:39 , Alex Young80min: Tel and Johnson are now on, replacing Kudus and Kolo Muani.
GOAL!
15:37 , Alex Young79min: Sangare puts the game to bed, with an absolute stunner from 25 yards!
Off the outside of his boot, the shot curls away from Vicario and pings the inside of the post.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Tottenham
15:35 , Alex Young75min: Spurs need some fresh impetus. Johnson, Tel and Odobert on the bench...
Matt Verri at the City Ground
15:29 , Alex YoungThis is a mess across the pitch from Spurs. Forest look capable of breaking on them every time, and there is no sort of coherent plan in attack.
Just aimless crosses into a box filled with Forest defenders... who love heading away crosses.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Tottenham
15:27 , Alex Young69min: Bit of concern for Victor, who is sat on the pitch and pointing to his calf muscle. He looks like he will be OK to continue.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Tottenham
15:23 , Alex Young65min: Simons breaks through the middle and tries to play Richarlison down the channel, but the striker’s tired first touch is almost a tackle.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Tottenham
15:21 , Alex Young63min: Another waste from Spurs as Kudus’ corner flies over everyone’s heads and out of play.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
15:18 , Alex YoungSpence properly unhappy about coming off. Had a few words on his way off, seemingly saying that he was fine, and then absolutely launches his jacket to the floor once he gets to the bench
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Tottenham
15:17 , Alex Young58min: Bergvall, Palhinha and Davies are on, replacing Bentancur, Gray and Spence.
Spence not too happy to be coming off.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Tottenham
15:14 , Alex Young56min: Only one team look like scoring the game’s third, and it ain’t Spurs.
Hudson-Odoi is desperate to complete his hat-trick, pushing Spurs up high, and almost bends one in from inside the area.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
15:13 , Alex YoungSpurs hadn't reset after the set-piece and it meant Porro and Bentancur were in each other's positions. Bentancur didn't look like he had a clue how to stop Hudson-Odoi getting that cross in. Fortune in how it flies into the far corner but it's too easy for Forest.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Tottenham
15:11 , Alex Young52min: Now what do Spurs have? This is a real morale-levelling performance so far.
GOAL!
15:08 , Alex Young50min: With almost their first attack of the half, Forest double their lead - but did Hudson-Odoi mean it?!
The winger shapes to cross but it sails right over Vicario.
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham
15:06 , Alex Young48min: Spurs seeing more of the ball at teh start of the second half, but haven’t yet done anything with it.
Second half
15:03 , Alex Young46min: No changes, yet, then.
The teams are back out.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
15:00 , Alex YoungPalhinha is the only Spurs sub not warming up at half-time. Brace yourselves for the popular return of Palhinha-Bentancur partnership...
Sounds like there could be changes for Spurs at the break.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
14:50 , Alex YoungReferee getting pelters as he comes off the pitch. Fair to say Forest don't feel they've got their share of decisions in the first 45 minutes.
Half-time!
14:47 , Alex Young48min: There’s the whistle.
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham
14:47 , Alex Young46min: Two minutes added on as Richarlison wins a free kick off Murillo, much to the home fans’ annoyance.
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham
14:46 , Alex Young45min: Porro very annoyed at Anderson for what he thinks was an intentional elbow. There’s a little shove and some words exchanged, and then Spurs coach Matt Wells gets booked for complaining.
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham
14:44 , Alex Young43min: Spence has appeared to run off that limp of his.
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham
14:41 , Alex Young41min: Gray into the book for a tough challenge on Williams. Deserved.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
14:38 , Alex YoungSpence couldn't even get close to getting back there as Forest nearly make it 2-0.
Spurs clearly trying to hold on to half-time without making the change but not sure that's sustainable. Been limping for ages now.
CLOSE!
14:38 , Alex Young37min: So close to a second for Forest as Hutchinson fizzes a super ball across the face of goal, which Gibbs-White slides towards but cannot get a touch.
Spence was really struggling to get back there.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
14:35 , Alex YoungSpence is struggling to move at the moment. Picked up a knock about five minutes ago and he's been grimacing ever since. Limping along that wing. Davies is the only option on the bench for Spurs.
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham
14:35 , Alex Young34min: Gray almost makes immediate amends with a lovely turn and half-volley, which forces Victor into a fine save low to his right.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
14:32 , Alex YoungI doubt that was the message passed on to Gray. Had no idea Sangare was behind him and he's gifted the opening goal to Forest, who briefly looked like they'd messed it up.
GOAL!
14:30 , Alex Young29min: A nightmare for Vicario and Gray!
The keeper finds his team-mate with a short pass on the edge of the area, Gray has no idea that Sangare is behind him, gets dispossessed, and Hudson-Odoi is there for a tap in.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:28 , Alex Young28min: Romero is back on.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
14:27 , Alex YoungFrank frantically passing on some instructions to his players during that break in play. Gray had a fairly detailed discussion with his boss, and there were messages for Kolo Muani and Richarlison too.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:27 , Alex Young26min: Pause in play as Romero tackles Jesus, but the striker may have left something on him accidently.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:25 , Alex Young25min: Better from Forest as Milenkovic flashes a header wide of the far post. Spence just about did enough.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:24 , Alex Young23min: End to end, suddenly. First Bentancur’s poor pass almost sets Jesus free on the wing. But Kolo Muani tackles him and charges up field all the way to the edge of the area, before being tackled himself.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:22 , Alex Young20min: Simons has now been barged over off the ball by Murillo. Referee was looking right at it, but no booking.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:20 , Alex Young19min: Twice now Simons has given the ball away, albeit when trying to intercept a pass.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
14:17 , Alex YoungIt's not been a great watch so far.
Plenty of niggly fouls, neither side in a huge rush to get the ball back in play when it goes out. Need something to kick this match into life.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:15 , Alex Young14min: Patient from Spurs on the left until Kolo Muani whips in a great cross, which Richarlison meets but his connect is not good enough to trouble the keeper.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:12 , Alex Young12min: Hutchinson goes down in the area under pressure from Spence, but there’s nothing in it. Referee and VAR agree.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:11 , Alex Young10min: Porro with a poor cross into the area, which Williams hoofs clear.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:10 , Alex Young8min: Oh, but that doesn’t help. Romero fouls Jesus near the centre circle.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:09 , Alex Young7min: Better from Spurs, who are trying to calm the play down.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
14:08 , Alex YoungSpurs have barely had a kick in a very scrappy start to the match. Have the post and Vicario to thank for the fact this is still 0-0. Haven't got going at all
OFF THE POST!
14:07 , Alex Young5min: Two huge early chances for the hosts!
First Sangara thumps a header off the bottom of the right-hand, before Vicario denies Williams with the follow-up.
Two big scares for Spurs!
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham
14:05 , Alex Young3min: Possession for both teams in the opening stages, trading passes and interceptions in midfield.
Matt Verri at the City Ground
14:01 , Alex YoungSpurs fans who made the trip this afternoon have all been given a scarf, so the away end looks very good as the players walk out. Good atmosphere as ever here at the City Ground.
Kick-off!
14:00 , Alex Young1min: Up and running.
Here they come.
The teams are back in their dressing rooms now. Not long to go.
Dyche on Tottenham
13:51 , Alex Young"Tottenham's home form has been heavily questioned but their away form hasn't because they've been strong. They've got some very good individual players and Thomas [Frank] is a wily fox in the Premier League now after years at Brentford. A new challenge for him and a new challenge for me. Different circumstances I think.
"I've read about some of the players they've brought in - they've spent a heck of a lot of money so it's a big challenge. I think we're in good shape and we're at the City Ground and that's a big factor. We take this game on gladly and I want us to perform. Anything I think of Thomas as a bloke goes out the window for those 90-odd minutes and he knows that."
Richarlison has four goals in his first six starts.
Final prep.
Frank looking for three things today
13:25 , Alex Young“Today we need three things. Firstly, to have that clean sheet mentality of defending well. If you defend well, according to the principles we have, but also the mindset to the body on the line.
“Phase two is playing forward, variation of between, in-between and behind, but also defending and counter press, so we can't have any stupid transition against us. And then, of course, set-piece is always a good thing to be on top of that as well.”
Frank speaks ahead of kick-off
13:17 , Alex Young“A couple of changes from the Slavia game. We needed that little bit of rotation to keep the freshness, but it's the same team as we played against Brentford.
“I really liked that performance in many ways. And it's all about producing, again, a good performance where we are front-footed, aggressive, brave and offensive-minded.
“It's definitely going right away at the moment. I think the last three performances I really like. We need to build on it. We need to produce again. That's the big thing: to produce again. And I'm confident we can do that.”
Matt Verri reports
13:10 , Alex YoungOur man on/in the ground, in sound and colour.
"Frank seems to have settled on close to a first-choice starting line-up."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) December 14, 2025
Spurs manager sticks with what he knows as he looks to oversee three wins on the spin for the first time.
Here's @MattVerri at the City Ground.#NFOTOT pic.twitter.com/OpbZ8PbUeT
Brennan Johnson is on the bench for his return to his former club.
Confirmed team news in full
12:54 , Alex YoungNottingham Forest XI: Victor, Savona, Milenković, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus
Subs: Gunn, Morato, Zinchenko, Abbott, Luiz, McAtee, Ndoye, Kalimuendo, Bakwa
Tottenham XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence, Bentancur, Gray, Kudus, Simons, Kolo Muani, Richarlison
Subs: Kinsky, Danso, Davies, Palhinha, Bergvall, Sarr, Tel, Johnson, Odobert
Matt Verri at the City Ground
12:49 , Alex YoungIt does feel like Frank is starting to settle on something close for a first-choice lineup.
Only a couple of changes from the win over Slavia Prague, as Bentancur and Kolo Muani come in for Palhinha and Odobert. Gray and Simons start for the third match in a row.
Tottenham XI
12:46 , Alex Young...and Spurs!
Your Spurs side to face Forest 💛
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 14, 2025
🔢 @krakenfx pic.twitter.com/GS7OAHaZIT
Nottingham Forest XI
12:46 , Alex YoungHere’s how the hosts line up!
Taking on Spurs this afternoon. 📋 pic.twitter.com/fXeRqnuYz5
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 14, 2025
Team news is imminent.
Frank on Dyche
12:33 , Alex Young“Some [people] you meet with in different circumstances for whatever reason, but we come together, and the coaches talk about life and football. And I think it's fair to say that we're the only ones that really understand each other.
“We're in the same shit together and dealing with the same problems and the same all sorts of things.
“So I think that's nice to share experiences and thoughts with good colleagues and friends there. So, of course, when we play against each other, it's very competitive.”
New-look Tottenham attack faces first real test to prove corner has been turned
12:25 , Alex YoungIt is more than 14 months since Tottenham last won three matches in a row.
Two has been difficult enough for the north Londoners in a period that has been characterised by largely dismal domestic results, for all it brought the end of the long wait for a trophy.
Their last run of three victories on the bounce came in October 2024, when wins over Qarabag and Manchester United were followed by a 2-1 success over Ferencvaros.
Even the most ardent of Spurs fans with the most impressive memories would do well to remember the front-line responsible for securing that particular hat-trick.
Ange Postecoglou went with Will Lankshear leading the line, flanked by Mikey Moore on one wing and Timo Werner on the other.
With all due respect to that particular trio, none of whom are at the club this season, there will be a more threatening look to the Spurs attack this afternoon.
Thomas Frank's side travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest, looking to build on what has been a very promising start to the month.
Rollercoaster at Forest
12:19 , Alex YoungThe summer saw these two teams at loggerheads over a failed move from Spurs for Morgan Gibbs-White.
Was his release clause triggered? Both sides say differing things. Either way, the player ended up signing a new contract, unveiled in an eyebrow-raising interview with Gibbs-White and the club’s owner during pre-season.
Things unravelled for Forest since, and they now find themselves in 17th and on their third manager of the season, Sean Dyche, who has steadied the ship.
It remains quite the comedown for Forest, who looked for most of last season that they would qualify for the Champions League, before an end-of-season collapse.
Spurs have furnished the away section with free scarves. Lovely touch.
Score prediction
11:57 , Alex YoungIt has been an enjoyable few days for Spurs, who were desperate for some home wins to ease the pressure on Frank and defuse simmering tensions that had been arising between frustrated fans and players in recent weeks.
Their away form has generally been strong, with four wins and only one defeat on the road so far this term, while only fellow strugglers West Ham and Wolves have earned fewer points at home in 2025/26 to date than Forest.
Dyche has been going very well with six wins from his first 11 games across all competitions since replacing ex-Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, denied a swift reunion with his Europa League winners after being sacked after only 39 days in charge in October, though Forest’s ongoing frailties were ruthlessly exposed by Everton last time out.
We’re backing Spurs to shade an entertaining game that won’t be short on goalmouth action to continue their recent resurgence under Frank.
Tottenham to win, 2-1.
Early Nottingham Forest team news
11:50 , Alex YoungOla Aina, Chris Wood, Angus Gunn and Ryan Yates are all sidelined for Forest.
First-choice goalkeeper Matz Sels missed their Europa League game due to a groin issue, so is likely out.
Striker Taiwo Awoniyi is approaching his comeback having recently returned to training.
Early Tottenham team news
11:42 , Alex YoungDominic Solanke is still not ready to return for Tottenham, despite teasing a comeback on social media.
Solanke is back training individually, having been sidelined since August, but hopes of a swift return to action have been ruled out by Thomas Frank.
Destiny Udogie is out until January after suffering a hamstring injury and his absence leaves Spurs short of options at full-back, with Djed Spence and Pedro Porro facing a busy festive period.
Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain long-term absentees, with Frank not offering a timeline for their return.
Frank is still figuring out his best attacking combination, but with Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus showing an impressive understanding he has something to build around.
Johnson could return on the left wing after missing Tuesday’s win over Slavia Prague, while Joao Palhinha is an option in midfield should Frank look to add stability in the centre of the park.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham
11:35 , Alex YoungTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage starts at 1.55pm GMT on Sky Sports Football ahead of the 2pm kick-off.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Welcome
11:29 , Alex YoungHello and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.
It’s 17th hosting 11th in the league, so neither will have been happy with their starts to the season - but both has reasons to believe they will continue looking up, rather than down, for the rest of the campaign.
Kick-off is at 2pm. Stick with us.
