Forest Shuffle the Pack as Brighton Bring Back Key Leaders
So, here’s what’s happening ahead of Nottingham Forest’s clash with Brighton — and there’s quite a bit to unpack. The team sheets have been confirmed, and both managers have made some notable decisions that could shape the flow of this match.
Starting with Forest, Sean Dyche has opted for just one change from the side that shocked everyone with that 3–0 win away at Liverpool last week. That performance had been full of discipline, sharp movement, and clinical finishing, so it makes sense that most of that lineup is being trusted again. However, Murillo, who had been taken off late in their Europa League win over Malmo on Thursday, hasn’t made the squad for this one. His absence is definitely a blow, but Morato steps in to replace him, adding some fresh legs and stability at the back.
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One big positive for Forest fans is the return of Morgan Gibbs-White. He’d been rested for the European fixture, but now he’s straight back into the starting lineup. His creativity and ability to carry the ball forward have been crucial for Forest all season, so having him restored to the XI gives them a much-needed spark.
Forest’s full starting team looks like this: Sels in goal; Williams, Morato, Sangare, and Anderson across the defensive and midfield lines; Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Dominguez, Jesus, Milenkovic, and Savona filling out the rest of the structure. On the bench, there’s a lot of depth too — Victor, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo, Hutchinson, Yates, Cunha, McAtee, Boly, and Abbott are all available if Dyche needs to change the tempo.
Brighton, on the other hand, have made two adjustments after their 2–1 win over Brentford last week. Fabian Hurzeler has brought back Lewis Dunk and Maxim De Cuyper into the starting lineup, giving Brighton some much-needed leadership and balance. Dunk’s presence at the heart of the defence always changes the team’s confidence, while De Cuyper offers a different dynamic down the left. Olivier Boscagli and Carlos Baleba drop to the bench as a result.
Their starting XI features Verbruggen in goal; Dunk, Van Hecke, Rutter, and De Cuyper forming the defensive options; with Minteh, Welbeck, Kadioglu, Gomez, Ayari, and Wieffer completing the structure. The bench includes Steele, Gruda, Tzimas, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Veltman, and Coppola — plenty of variety if Hurzeler wants to tweak things mid-game.
Both sides come into this match with contrasting strengths — Forest growing in confidence after a massive win, Brighton steadily improving their defensive shape while still offering plenty going forward. With key players returning and tactical tweaks on both sides, this one is set up to be a fascinating battle at the City Ground.
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