Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest: Preview, Team News and Predictions
Manchester City will be aiming to extend their perfect record in the Premier League when they play host to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the 23rd of September.
The Cityzens have overcome injuries and kickstarted their title defense just the way it was envisioned – breaking teams down, scoring goals aplenty and setting themselves apart from the rest of the pack.
They’ve also avoided an unlikely scare from Crvena Zvezda by coming back from behind to win 3-1 in their opening Champions League fixture.
Pep Guardiola was at his best when he paid respect to Nottingham Forest, who have endured a pitiful away record since returning to the top flight.
“Next we have NFFC (Forest). Two Champions League winners. They have won one more than us,” gushed Pep, after lamenting the team’s growing injury list.
Steve Cooper’s troops have collected seven points from their opening five games, claiming crucial wins against newcomers Sheffield United and Chelsea. They were frustrated by Burnley at the City Ground on Monday, but a dream debut for Callum Hudson-Odoi means Cooper finally has a firm grip on his front four.
Forest are resolute at the back and have an out-ball to Taiwo Awoniyi, but can they upset Man City? Here’s all you need to know ahead of Saturday’s kick-off.
Team News
Manchester City
“We are in trouble but I am not going to say: ‘Oh, we have a lot of injuries’. It is what it is. With the players we have, we will go for it. As long as we have that mentality, that is good We have five really important players injured and to sustain that for a long time would be difficult,” said Pep Guardiola, who is set to be without Bernardo Silva for the game.
Jack Grealish was pictured in training but the Forest game comes too soon, while Mateo Kovacic and John Stones remain sidelined.
Kevin de Bruyne remains a long-term absentee.
Nottingham Forest
Danilo and Serge Aurier missed out previously, but with the team finding its best XI, they could mostly make the bench.
Hudson-Odoi should be rewarded with another start after scoring a jaw-dropper against Burnley from the left wing.
Predicted XI
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Foden, Rodri, Bernardo; Doku, Alvarez, Haaland
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Turner; Montiel, Worrall, McKenna, Aina; Sangare, Mangala; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi
Match Prediction
As well-drilled as Nottingham Forest are, Manchester City should be able to make light work of them. City usually punish sides that sit back, and from Forest’s point of view, that’s the last approach they’d want to take against the reigning Champs.
Predicted score: Manchester City 3-0 Nottingham Forest
-Roy Akarshak
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: Ank Kumar. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.