United’s final home game of the season sees a now safe Nottingham Forest come to Old Trafford. This is also a Forest side who are one of the best teams in the league under Vitor Pereira.
More than this though, it will be a match you don’t want to miss and I doubt there’ll be a dry eye in the house as it will be Casemiro’s final game at home.
It was emotional when he left the pitch after United’s win over Brentford in which the Brazilian scored what has become a trademark header.
I’m not sure what to expect from this game. United have achieved the goal of the season and as per the performance at Sunderland, it looks like the players are already on the beach. But it’s our final home game of the season and a send off to Casemiro. Forest are safe and have nothing left to play for this season but are a side that can cause us problems.
Anything can happen 🤷♂️.
Predicted Lineup
Carrick made two changes in defense last week. Martinez came straight back in for Heaven while Mazraoui replaced Dalot. Both were seen as a surprise.
After what was an expectedly rusty performance by the butcher though, would you bring Heaven into the team because of it? That would show a bit of indecisiveness from the manager in my opinion.
He could drop Maguire and play Heaven and Martinez despite the imbalance of two left-footers. This would give Martinez the game time he needs whilst also using the youngster.
I don’t think he’ll drop Maguire however, so it will be the same pairing.
Mazraoui did a good enough job to keep his place but I wouldn’t be surprised if Dalot were to return to the lineup. Not sure why he was dropped in the first place.
Casemiro will no doubt return next to Mainoo. I’m sure he’s available again and won’t want to miss his final game at the Theatre.
Even a half fit Unc would be better than Mount tbh.
At this point, I don’t know whether Sesko will be back. If he is, Carrick might keep him on the bench after returning from injury. This is why I feel he’ll start Cunha up front, Dorgu on the left and Mbeumo on the right.
Cunha looks better centrally and Dorgu provides natural width. Mbeumo was benched at Sunderland while Amad started. He put in a poor performance and this is why I think Carrick will start the Cameroonian instead.
That right flank is now becoming a bit of a problem because we have two talented players heavily underperforming.
Approach
It’s still difficult to think what United will do.
Like I said, being our final home game and after a crap performance last week, United and Carrick would want to finish the campaign with a bang.
This is why I believe we’ll see a side that’s on fire, at least from the start. We know we have the tendencies to start well but not finish well. Sometimes, we don’t even start at all and never get going.
Let’s hope we don’t have one of those games 😅.
I expect to see how we started off against Brentford. That was the best opening to a game we’ve had under the interim.
United were relentless in their press hardly giving the bees any time to breathe. The passing was crisp and incisive. We didn’t dawdle in possession. And every move we made felt like it was done with a purpose.
The energy and intensity was there which is why we were rewarded with that early goal by Casemiro.
At the end of the day, trying to decipher how united will play isn’t anything too puzzling. Defend and counter. Moments. Individualism. That’s it. What I’m trying to figure out however, is the narrative for each game that gives us that motivation.
Last week Carrick said that it was about pride, responsibility and playing for the fans.
Clearly, that didn’t work because we were shite against Sunderland.
The narrative for this game though, gives us quite a lot of motivation:
- Final home game of the season
- Potentially wearing the new kit
- Unc’s final game at Old Trafford
- Bruno assist record
And also a little known other record united could break.
Sesko has 11 goals. Both Cunha and Marino are on 9. If those two manage to score a goal each…
Follow me on TikTok while you're at it 😉.
So yeah, there is something to play for.
I believe we’ll go out there and set the tone by starting off like a house on fire. United can’t begin with a slow and flat opening 15 minutes. That has been an issue for most of the season.
Also, what type of message does that send?
Final home game. Casemiro’s last Old Trafford appearance. Some records to play for.
It will just slowly start to confirm the slight concern for Carrick that crept in last week when the players played with no motivation.
Form
United dropped points for the first time in three games against Sunderland. We were on a run of three straight wins before that disappointing stalemate last week.
With Liverpool and Villa drawing, we maintained the 6-point gap to 3rd and with just two games remaining, that spot looks ever likely to be ours.
The issue for our form and why it’s not better than it could’ve been is due to the points dropped against the lesser sides like Forest.
This is because their style of play is one we struggle to play against. When you have a clash of approaches, it can be difficult for one side to get over the other.
The home form is actually pretty strong however, out of the three defeats, two were against Everton and Leeds, sides that fall into the same bracket as Forest.
You then look at the last four PL results and that makes for seriously grim readings.
There’s been one draw which was earlier this season, and THREE Forest wins!
Yes we haven’t been them in the last four meetings.
Their last visit to OT resulted in a 3-2 win in which Onana made a categoric cock up. So Onana did an Onana. Doubt that will be the case with Lammens so we can rule that out.
Nottingham Forest
I don’t know how to discuss Forest.
They’ve had arguably one of the strangest seasons of all. And that’s saying something considering how many clubs have had tumultuous campaigns.
Four managers. Fighting relegation. European semifinal. They’ve gone unbeaten in 10 games in all comps for the first time in a decade. One of the league’s in form teams.
Told you it was crazy 🤪.
As for them right at this moment, they are safe from relegation and out of the Europa League meaning that they have nothing to play for. This could cause them to have mentally checked out.
If that is the case, then we might have a great chance of a win.
But something that we do have to watch out for with Forest is Elliot Anderson. The United midfield target may have a point to prove, show us why he is top of the list for the club and why he should be Casemiro’s replacement.
I’m a big fan of his and this gives us an opportunity to watch him first-hand.
Should be interesting.
Prediction
Being our last home game as well as our influential Brazilian’s I have a strong feeling we will get a straightforward 2-0 win.
I just can’t see anything spoiling an important afternoon. There’s too much in our favour. We’ve even had Bruno nominated for player of the season, Carrick nominated for manager of the season and Mainoo nominated for young player of the season.
It’s gonna be a United win. I’m sure of it.
But what are your predictions ahead of what is our final home game of 25/26?
Casemiro | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)
Old Trafford | Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images - United In Focus
Elliot Anderson | Creator: Shaun Botterill | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2025 Getty Images via Goal