The Premier League 2025–26 season heads into its final stretch as Chelsea prepare to face Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on Monday, May 4, 2026. This Matchday 35 encounter is a tale of two contrasting seasons: Chelsea, currently 9th under interim manager Calum McFarlane, are desperate to snap a five-match league losing streak and keep their European qualification hopes alive. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest arrive in London sitting in 16th place but buoyed by a nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions. For the Blues, this is a chance to build on their recent FA Cup semi final win over Leeds, while Forest aim to secure their top flight status before shifting focus back to their Europa League semi final.
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest: Match Details
| Match | Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest, Premier League |
| Venue | Stamford Bridge, London |
| Date & Time (India) | Monday, May 4, 2026 |
| Live Stream (India) | JioHotstar App & Website |
| TV Channel (India) | Star Sports Select HD1 |
Chelsea Team News And Injury Update: Will Reece James And Levi Colwill Return Today?
Interim coach Calum McFarlane has been boosted by the return of Reece James and Levi Colwill to full training last week. While both defenders are in contention to be in the squad tonight, a final decision on their starting roles will be made just before kick-off. However, the Blues continue to suffer from a massive injury crisis with up to 15 players potentially unavailable.
Key names like Estevao, Jorgensen, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens remain sidelined. The focus will once again be on Cole Palmer to provide the creative spark for a Chelsea side that has failed to score in their last five Premier League outings.
Nottingham Forest Team News: Vítor Pereira Facing Defensive Crisis
Nottingham Forest manager Vítor Pereira is sweating over the fitness of several key players following their Europa League clash against Aston Villa. Defenders Murillo and Jair Cunha, along with Dan Ndoye and Ibrahim Sangaré, are major doubts for today’s trip to Stamford Bridge. Callum Hudson-Odoi has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season, which is a significant blow to their attacking depth.
On a positive note, Pereira remains hopeful that Ola Aina will be fit to start despite picking up a knock mid-week. Forest will likely rely on Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White to exploit Chelsea’s shaky defensive transitions.
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineups: Who Will Start At Stamford Bridge?
Chelsea Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez; Malo Gusto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, Marc Cucurella; Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo; Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto; Joao Pedro.
Nottingham Forest Predicted XI (4-3-3): Matz Sels; Ola Aina, Moussa Niakhate, Andrew Omobamidele, Harry Toffolo; Ryan Yates, Danilo, Nicolas Dominguez; Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga.
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest Winner Prediction: Who Will Win Today’s Match?
Despite their abysmal league form, Chelsea enter the match as favourites with a slightly high winning probability according to the latest data. The “McFarlane Bounce” from the FA Cup win might finally translate into league points, especially with the home crowd at Stamford Bridge behind them. However, Nottingham Forest have been incredibly resilient, boasting a +11 goal differential over their recent unbeaten streak. If Forest can maintain their defensive discipline, they could easily snatch a point or even an upset win against a Chelsea side that is low on confidence in front of goal.
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest Goal Prediction: Chelsea to end their scoring drought and secure a narrow 2- 1 victory over Nottingham Forest.
