Team news
Aston Villa will give a late fitness test to Leon Bailey, who has missed their last two matches.
Ross Barkley is back in training following calf and knee issues and could come into contention for his first appearance since 10 January.
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo says Chris Wood's hip injury is being assessed "day-by-day".
Ola Aina is ruled out with a calf problem, while fellow full-back Alex Moreno is ineligible to face his parent club, but Callum Hudson-Odoi returns after missing the win against Manchester United due to personal reasons.
Match facts
Head-to-head
Aston Villa are unbeaten in eight consecutive home league games against Nottingham Forest (W5, D3) since a 2-0 loss in October 1994, when Stuart Pearce and Steve Stone scored.
The Reds beat Villa 2-1 at the City Ground in December and are vying to complete a first league double against them since 1984-85.
Aston Villa
The Villans have won six successive fixtures in all competitions for the first time since 2019. They last did so whilst a top-flight club in 2009.
The five clean sheets they have kept in that six-game winning streak is as many as they had in their previous 31 matches.
Villa are unbeaten in 14 Premier League home fixtures (W7, D7) since losing to Arsenal in August.
They have avoided defeat in each of the past seven top-flight home games in which they have conceded first (W3, D4).
Marcus Rashford has been directly involved in seven goals in seven appearances against Nottingham Forest, scoring three and assisting four (all for Manchester United).
Marco Asensio has netted eight times in his seven most recent games for Villa, including braces in each of their past three home fixtures.
Nottingham Forest
Forest have accumulated 57 points, their second highest total after 30 games of a top-flight season (including readjustments to three points for a win), bettered only by their title-winning campaign in 1977-78.
They have won 11 Premier League games this term despite having possession of 40% or lower – it is the joint most on record in the competition (matching Brentford in 2022-23).
The Reds have scored first in 23 of their 30 top-flight fixtures this term, at least three more than any other side.
Forest have won 10 of 17 league away matches since May 2024 (D2, L5) – as many victories as in their previous 74 such fixtures.
Ever-present goalkeeper Matz Sels has kept 13 Premier League clean sheets this season, tying the club record set by Mark Crossley in the 42-game 1994-95 campaign.
