Premier League Gameweek 4 opens with Aston Villa hosting Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on Saturday 12 September 2026 (15:00 BST). Villa drew 0–0 with Hull in GW3 after beating Arsenal 1–2 in GW2; Forest shared a goalless draw with Spurs at the City Ground and need points on the road.
Aston Villa: team news & GW3 form
Unai Emery's Villa use Watkins, Garnacho and McGinn as the FPL core. Martínez in goal and Cash at right-back anchor defence; home vs a Forest side yet to win away is a Watkins captain punt for differential managers.
Aston Villa Predicted Starting XI & Lineup · 4-3-3
Official lineups confirmed 1 hour before kick-off.
Nottingham Forest: team news & GW3 form
Oliver Glasner's Forest travel with Murillo, Sels and Gibbs-White as the defensive spine. Igor Jesus and Dan Ndoye offer counter threat, but 0–0 vs Spurs in GW3 underlines a cautious approach away from the City Ground.
Key tactical battle
Villa's high line and wide combinations vs Forest's low block — Watkins' movement in behind Murillo is the key battle. Set pieces from McGinn could break a tight 15:00 kick-off.
Head-to-head record
Forest took four points from Villa in their last PL season together; Villa Park has been a fortress under Emery.
Fantasy & Predictor picks
- Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa, FWD): focal striker at home after the GW3 Hull draw.
- Alejandro Garnacho (Aston Villa, FWD): pace on the counter vs Forest's block.
- Morgan Gibbs-White (Forest, MID): creative hub if Forest score on the break.
- Murillo (Forest, DEF): DefCon upside if Forest tighten up.
- Predictor: Aston Villa 2–1 Nottingham Forest.
Prediction
Villa's home quality tells against a Forest side searching for away form. Prediction: Aston Villa 2–1 Nottingham Forest.