West Ham United v Nottingham Forest
Premier League, London Stadium, Sunday 18 May 2025, 2.15pm BST
West Ham United are set to contest their 19th and final Premier League home match of the 2024/25 season when they welcome Nottingham Forest to London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Hammers are looking to finish with a flurry, having gained some encouraging momentum by beating Manchester United 2-0 away from home last time out, to put a welcome end to their eight-game winless run.
Though the campaign has overall been largely disappointing, Graham Potter's men now have a positive platform to build on, and with two games left in total will be eyeing maximum points to climb two places from their current position of 15th, and head into the summer in the best shape possible.
A first league win at Old Trafford since 2007 will surely have boosted the Irons' confidence, but they will be wary of the threats posed by a Forest side who defeated them 3-0 in the reverse fixture in November, and who have already secured a spot in Europe for next term.
The two-time European Cup champions, who currently sit seventh in the table, are still in the mix for UEFA Champions League qualification, with just one point separating them and Chelsea in fifth.
Nuno Espírito Santo's team have won just one of their previous six Premier League games, but they have shown their quality in wins over the likes of Manchester City and champions Liverpool this season, and they are sure to arrive in east London with all guns blazing, with so much at stake.
All signs point to an enticing match-up then, with both teams firmly focused on securing all three points for different reasons. Read on below for everything you need to know ahead of the match...
Tickets…
Limited tickets remain available for Sunday's Premier League clash at home to Nottingham Forest.
With prices starting at just £35 for Adults and £26 Concessions, hurry to secure your ticket before the last few go!
You can buy online now at eticketing.co.uk/whufc or call 0333 030 1966 to purchase over the phone, so don't miss out.
Supporters are urged to arrive early at London Stadium on Sunday as security and ticket checks will be in place at all entry points.
Travel…
There are no planned disruptions to TfL Underground services on the Central and Jubilee lines, though there are set to be issues on the District, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines, Elizabeth line services, the Docklands Light Railway and the Mildmay line on the London Overground. Supporters using these services are highly recommended to check their routes before departure.
Similarly, there are planned disruptions on Greater Anglia and c2c mainline services, as well as the Southeastern network that serves Stratford International.
Stratford and Stratford City Bus Stations are located in close proximity to Stratford station. Buses that run to these stations are numbers: 25, 86, 97, 104, 108, 158, 241, 257, 262, 276, 308, 425, 473, D8.
Supporters using public transport are advised to check their journeys before they travel, using resources such as TfL’s Journey Planner and the TfL Go app. Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website if travelling on the rail network.
There is no parking available at London Stadium. Restrictions will be in place and enforced in the local area.
How To Follow…
Sunday’s 2.15pm kick-off has been selected for live broadcast in the UK by Sky Sports. If you live outside the UK, click HERE for details of Premier League listings in your territory.
You can follow the action via our live blog on whufc.com and our app, and across our social media channels. We will also have highlights and exclusive reaction for you after the final whistle on our website and social media.
Live audio commentary will be available in the UK on BBC Radio 5 Live, and worldwide on our official website and app.
End-Of-Season Activities…
The Hammers’ match against Nottingham Forest represents our final home outing of the season, and there will be a host of activities taking place throughout the afternoon to keep an eye on.
We ask that supporters please take their seats by 2pm, 15 minutes ahead of kick-off, in order to congratulate our 2024/25 Betway Hammer of the Year winner, and show appreciation to long-serving defender Aaron Cresswell, who will be leaving the Club after eleven years of service at the end of next month.
After the game, we ask fans to remain in their seats, with the squad and staff set to do a lap of the pitch to show their appreciation for your amazing backing.
We Are West Ham. United...
As West Ham United prepares for our home Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, the Club is proud to stand in support of football as a game for everyone.
West Ham United has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination. Equality, equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the Club and we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels welcome to attend our fixtures in a safe environment.
Any form of discriminatory chanting, including antisemitic chanting, is unacceptable behaviour that has no place in football and has criminal consequences. West Ham United will take the strongest possible action against any individual found to be engaging in such behaviour, including potential lifetime bans and referral to the police.
The Club can also face disciplinary action if any of its supporters are found to have engaged in this behaviour, which is not representative of the West Ham United fanbase and will not be tolerated by the Club.
West Ham United provides a number of support mechanisms on matchday to ensure that supporters can report any incidents discreetly and in confidence. To report any incidents during Sunday’s match, you can speak with the nearest steward or Supporter Liaison Officer, or text the word SUPPORT, followed by your message, to 83121.
You can also contact West Ham United at [email protected]. Please provide as much information as possible, including the stand, row, seat number, description of the offender and incident.
We are proud of the diverse and inclusive values that our Club and community stand for. We ask all Hammers supporters attending Sunday’s match to reflect those values - and to back the team with passion, pride and respect.
Official Programme…
At 116 pages, the publication remains the largest in English football, while this year each Premier League issue also comes with a bespoke cover illustration and an eight-page pullout, complete with an eye-catching poster, a brainteasing quiz and plenty of games for our younger Hammers.
Still priced at just £4, the Official Programme represents superb value for money for supporters of all ages wanting exclusive interviews, attention-grabbing opinions and eye-catching photographs, plus the regular news, columns and statistics and insightful content from across all areas of the Club.
The Official Programme is the definitive Claret and Blue publication for West Ham fans.
Our 21st issue of the season is led by an extensive interview with set-piece specialist James Ward-Prowse, who reflects on a season full of twists and turns, his loan spell at Forest and passing the 400-appearance milestone in the Premier League. Ward-Prowse features on the striking programme cover, which has been created by renowned illustrator, Ian Keltie.
We have Jarrod Bowen's captain's column and words from Head Coach Graham Potter, while Steve Blowers finishes his look back at the Irons' 1975 FA Cup success by chatting to two-time winner in the competition, Sir Trevor Brooking. There are also exciting features with Aaron Cresswell and Emerson
With the latest news from our Academy, women’s team and Foundation, plus puzzles, statistics and the lowdown on our opponents from the City Ground, the Official Programme is packed full of content for you!
Click HERE to purchase your copy!
Team News…
Graham Potter will hold his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. However, we do know that long-term absentees Michail Antonio (leg) and Crysencio Summerville (hamstring) will miss the game.
Midfielder Edson Álvarez featured off the bench against Manchester United on Sunday, having missed the three previous games with a back injury, and he will be looking for more minutes here.
For Nottingham Forest, forward Taiwo Awoniyi underwent surgery to repair a serious abdominal injury this week, after colliding with a post against Leicester City last weekend.
Elsewhere, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Murillo and Eric da Silva Moreira are all injury doubts.
Opposition…
It is 50 years since Brian Clough was appointed manager of Nottingham Forest.
Back then, in January 1975, Forest were 13th in the old Second Division. They finished the 1974/75 campaign 16th and winning major trophies and European qualification seemed unthinkable.
However, Clough had a track record of success, having led Derby County from the second tier to the league title and the European Cup semi-finals in the space of three years between 1970 and 1973.
The outspoken manager, working with his long-time trusted assistant Peter Taylor, then similarly transformed Forest. They won promotion in 1976/77, stormed to the First Division title at the first attempt and lifted the League Cup the following season, won the 1978 Charity Shield, went 42 league games unbeaten, retained the League Cup, then defeated Malmö to win the 1979 European Cup. For good measure, they then beat Barcelona to win the European Super Cup and overcame Hamburg to retain the European Cup.
For a club which had previously won just two FA Cups, it was an incredible period of dominance.
Clough remained in charge until 1993, winning two further League Cups and two Full Members Cups, and left having added 13 pieces of silverware to the City Ground trophy cabinet.
Of course, while Forest will not repeat that success, their current position near the top of the Premier League table is a reminder that the club from the city of Robin Hood has a history of mixing it with the richest in the game.
That history has been rekindled since the arrival of Greek businessman Evangelos Marinakis as the club’s owner in 2017.
While comparisons between Clough and Marinakis are unfair, both are larger-than-life characters whose presence at Forest helped transform the club from second-tier also-rans to top-flight challengers.
Under Marinakis’ ownership, Forest have risen from the lower reaches of the EFL Championship to the upper echelons of the Premier League.
After narrowly avoiding relegation in each of the previous two seasons, Forest have put together their best campaign in 30 years this term.
With former Valencia, Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur head coach Nuno Espírito Santo in the dugout and a young and exciting team on the pitch, the Tricky Trees have spent the entire season challenging for a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Victory at Tottenham Hotspur on 21 April took Forest to third in the table, but a home defeat by Brentford and draws with Crystal Palace and Leicester City mean their hopes of the top-five finish required will go down to their final two games at London Stadium on Sunday and at home to direct rivals Chelsea a week later.
Should they succeed, Forest fans could be forgiven for dreaming of a repeat of Clough’s incredible achievements of all those years ago…
Previous Meetings…
Sunday’s contest marks the 122nd competitive meeting between West Ham and Nottingham Forest, but only the 14th in the Premier League.
Overall, the Hammers edge the head-to-head statistics, with 48 wins to their name. There have been 26 draws between the teams, while Forest have come out on top on 47 occasions.
The last two match-ups have resulted in full shares of the spoils for Forest, who won on home soil in February and November 2024 by scorelines of 2-0 and 3-0 respectively.
The Irons did win the two clashes before that however, at London Stadium, with a Danny Ings brace on his full debut inspiring an emphatic 4-0 triumph in February 2023, nine months before Lucas Paquetá, Jarrod Bowen and Tomáš Souček strikes secured a narrow 3-2 victory.
Prior to the Tricky Trees' promotion to the top flight in 2022, West Ham did a league double over Sunday's opponents in the EFL Championship in the 2011/12 season, winning 4-1 at the City Ground and then 2-1 at Upton Park.
Match Officials…
Referee: Sam Barrott
Assistant Referees: Wade Smith and Akil Howson
Fourth Official: Matt Donohue
VAR: Darren England
Assistant VAR: Mark Scholes
Sam Barrott has been confirmed as Sunday's referee.
A former Halifax Town youth player, who took up refereeing as a teenager after sustaining an injury, Barrott worked his way up the ranks and made the step up to the EFL from the National League list of officials at the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
He was promoted to Professional Game Match Officials Limited's (PGMOL) Select Group 2 ahead of 2023/24, not long before he took charge of a Premier League match for the first time in October 2023, when Fulham beat Sheffield United 3-1 at Craven Cottage.
Barrott's fifth outing in the top flight involved the Hammers, when a Dara O'Shea own-goal and a Tomáš Souček strike secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor in November 2023. After holding the whistle in a total of 15 Premier League games last term, including West Ham's goalless home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2024, he oversaw Oxford United's EFL League One Play-Off final win over Bolton Wanderers 12 months ago, and was then duly promoted to Select Group 1 ahead of 2024/25.
West Ham's 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea in September 2024 was one of the 22 Premier League fixtures Barrott has overseen this season, while he was also promoted to the international lists of FIFA and UEFA in December 2024, replacing Craig Pawson.
For more information about the officials, click HERE.
