Evening Standard
·18. Oktober 2025
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea: Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds today

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·18. Oktober 2025
Premier League action resumes after the international break as Blues look to build on win over Liverpool
Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith
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Chelsea are at struggling Nottingham Forest today as Premier League football returns.
The Blues went into the international break on the back of an impressive 2-1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, with Estevao Willian scoring his first goal for the club deep into stoppage time.
That result ended a run of three Premier League games without a victory for Chelsea, though Enzo Maresca’s decision to leave his technical area to celebrate the late winner earned him a second yellow card, £8,000 fine and one-match touchline ban.
His opposite number Ange Postecoglou will be in the Forest dugout despite speculation that the former Tottenham head coach is already under serious pressure having failed to win any of his first seven games in charge.
As this is the first game of the Premier League weekend, Chelsea have the chance to move into the top four with a win, while Forest can pull clear of the relegation zone - albeit potentially only for a couple of hours.
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea is scheduled for a 12.30pm BST kick-off today on Saturday October 18, 2025.
The match will take place at the City Ground in Nottingham.
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports. Coverage starts at 11am BST on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Chelsea correspondent Dom Smith at the City Ground.
Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and YouTube channel will show highlights from shortly after the final whistle, with Match of the Day broadcasting on BBC One at 10.30pm BST.
Murillo, Douglas Luiz and Oleksandr Zinchenko could all return for Forest, while striker Chris Wood is expected to be fit after a knock. Ola Aina remains out after hamstring surgery.
As for Chelsea, Maresca revealed on Friday that Cole Palmer faced another six weeks on the sidelines with his persistent groin injury.
Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto are all doubts, with Benoit Badiashile also now out until December, joining Liam Delap, Levi Colwill and Dario Essugo on the sidelines, as well as the unavailable Mykhailo Mudryk.
Reece James, Andrey Santos, Wesley Fofana, Joao Pedro, Tosin Adarabioyo and Josh Acheampong are all fit, while Trevoh Chalobah is available again after suspension.
Setback: Cole Palmer likely won’t return for Chelsea until December
AFP via Getty Images
The first game after an international break is always a difficult fixture to navigate and Forest’s desperate need for three points will make things a bit more tricky for the Blues.
Still, that win over Liverpool should have bolstered the confidence within the Chelsea camp and we expect them to have too much quality for the hosts as the pressure builds on Postecoglou.
Chelsea to win, 3-0.
Chelsea have not lost at the City Ground since January 1997 and clinched Champions League qualification in the corresponding fixture on the final day of last season, with Levi Colwill netting the only goal of the game.
Nottingham Forest wins: 27
Chelsea wins: 42
Draws: 31
Nottingham Forest to win: 5/2
Chelsea to win: 21/20
Draw: 5/2
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
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