Nottingham Forest v Chelsea live: Team news, line-ups and more as Premier League returns – UK Times

Asked if his self-belief had been dented by a difficult start at Forest, he said: “I started in Australia when I was 32 years old in semi-professional football and I’m here in the Premier League at the age of 60. Do you reckon I lack self-belief or don’t like a fight?

“I didn’t get here because of my connections. In fact, I’ve picked fights. I have, even in the schoolyard. I’ve picked fights with people who I knew would beat me up. That’s the kind of person I am, so that’s fine.”

Ange Postecoglou insists if he is given time at a club it always “ends the same – with me and a trophy” following a tough start to life at Nottingham Forest.

Postecoglou has failed to win any of his first seven games since taking charge at the club on September 9 and will hope to get over the line against Chelsea at the eighth time of asking.

The Australian has already faced criticism from fans but retained the support of Forest’s hierarchy before they suffered a third successive defeat against Newcastle ahead of the international break.

Cole Palmer is set to miss the next six weeks for Chelsea with head coach Enzo Maresca warning that the club’s medical staff are “not magicians”.

The 23-year-old has been struggling with a groin injury for much of the season and has not played since being taken off 20 minutes into the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United on September 20.

Prior to the international break Maresca said he had hoped to have Palmer back for Saturday’s game at Nottingham Forest but, when asked about the progress of the injury, he admitted: “I was wrong. Unfortunately he needs to be out probably six more weeks.

“We try just to protect Cole as much as we can. The most important thing is that when he comes back he’s fully fit.”

On top of Maresca’s absence, Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer for another six weeks as his groin issue prolongs. Reece James has been passed fit to feature, though, while Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana are back in contention. Benoit Badiashile is out until December with a muscle problem, while Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto are doubts.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Lavia; Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; Pedro.

Forest don’t have many injury concerns, with their only major blow being that of Ola Aina who has been out for a while with a hamstring problem. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz are in a race against time to make 100 percent fitness, though.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Dominguez; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus.

Nottingham Forest’s clash with Chelsea in the Premier League kicks off at 12:30pm BST on Saturday 18 October at the City Ground in Nottingham.

Viewers in the UK can watch the game on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage starting at 11am BST. Subscribers can also watch the match on discovery+.

Chelsea make the trip to Ange Postecoglou’s struggling Nottingham Forest as the Premier League returns from the October international break.

The Blues prolonged Liverpool’s slip last time out, with Estevao’s stoppage-time winner sending Stamford Bridge into euphoria and stripping the defending champions of top position.

Enzo Maresca sprinted down the touchline to celebrate with his players but won’t have the chance to do the same at the City Ground – he’ll be absent from the Chelsea bench as he serves a one-match ban for his antics.

Postecoglou, meanwhile, may not have much time left in his own dugout after a disastrous start to life at Forest, having failed to register a win in his first seven games since being appointed in September.