Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest LIVE commentary: Johnson and Nuno reunite with former clubs in important clash – kick-off time, team news and talkSPORT coverage

Tottenham host Nottingham Forest in London this Sunday in a clash that will impact both ends of the Premier League table.

Spurs missed the chance to secure a top-four finish last time out against West Ham, meaning they remain just outside the Champions League places.

Ange Postecoglou’s side are two points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa, with a win needed to continue the pressure on the West Midlands side.

They now host Forest, live on talkSPORT, with former manager Nuno Espirito Santo aiming to lead his side safely into the relegation battle.

Tottenham v Nottingham Forest: Brilliant Brennan

Brennan Johnson is in fine form for Tottenham and he now faces his former club.

The 22-year-old left Forest to join Spurs this summer after spending his entire professional career at the City Ground.

He will see old faces as he takes the field this weekend and they will fear the impact he could have.

Since the start of 2024, Johnson has been involved in more goals than any other Tottenham player in the Premier League, scoring four and providing three assists.

His statistics this season (5 goals and 7 assists) are the best by a Welsh player in the top flight since Gareth Bale in 2020/21.

Johnson is thriving under Postecoglou and he is likely to play an important role in picking up a crucial three points against his former side in the capital.

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• Nottingham Forest have lost their last two away league matches against Tottenham, having lost just one of their previous 11 visits before that (W8 D2).
• Having lost six of their seven Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest between 1993 and 1997, Tottenham have now won their last five matches against them, keeping four clean sheets in the process.

Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest: team news

Richarlison was ruled out of that clash by Postecoglou who revealed he had a problem with his knee.

The Brazilian will be sidelined with a ‘problem’ while Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon and Fraser Forster will all remain injured.

Johnson is expected to start wide with captain Heung-min Son leading the way.

As for Forest, Taiwo Awoniyi is still ruled out and is not expected to return until the end of the month.

Nuno Tavarez is also still recovering, as is Willy Boly, but Espirito Santo’s injury list is short with just three knocks.

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• Nottingham Forest have won just two of their last 25 away matches in the Premier League (D7 L16). Since winning their first away match under Nuno Espírito Santo on Boxing Day at Newcastle, Forest are winless in five away games (D2 L3).
• Tottenham have won 11 of their 15 Premier League home matches this season (L4) and are the only team yet to draw at home in 2023-24. Since their three consecutive defeats in November and December, Spurs have won seven of their last eight matches at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (L1).

Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest: what was said?

Postecoglou has spoken about Espirito Santo’s stay at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after a difficult spell at the club.

He said: “I think every job, especially in the Premier League, is like that (difficult). It’s fair to say that Nuno would say Forest also pose a big challenge.

“It’s just the nature of the beast in terms of what competition you go into and whatever club you go to.

“Nowadays there is a much more short-term view of everything, including football.

“As a manager or whatever job you get, you know you don’t have the luxury of having too much leeway to not do things right.

“For all of us, it’s just the world we live in right now. It’s the scrutiny you face.

“There are a lot of extreme reactions to things that invariably cause people to act and more often than not it’s the manager who is at the end, but I think we understand that for all of us.

“We approach these roles with our eyes wide open and I’m sure Nuno, when he came to Forest, didn’t think it would be an easy task.

“And when he came here he didn’t think it was going to be an easy task but like you said, that doesn’t tell whether he’s a good manager or not.”

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• Nottingham Forest have scored 3+ goals in two of their 14 Premier League games under Nuno Espírito Santo, as many times as in 55 games under Steve Cooper. Forest are looking to score three or more goals in consecutive top-flight matches in the same season for the first time since March/April 1995.
• Spurs have only managed to score in one of their last 42 Premier League matches, in a 3-0 defeat to Fulham last month. They have scored in 29 different games this season, with no team having scored more in 2023-24.

Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest: talkSPORT coverage

This Premier League clash will take place on Sunday April 7.

Kick-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

talkSPORT will provide live coverage of the game presented by Sam Matterface.

Comments will come from Nigel Adderley and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.