Manchester City host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, looking to continue their impressive run of form.
Manchester City have picked up five wins from five league matches, and they will be firm favourites heading into the contest against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.
On the other hand, Nottingham Forest have been quite mediocre so far losing two of their five league matches. That said, the visitors are unbeaten in three of their last four league outings, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Next up: Nottingham Forest! 👊#ManCity | #AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/2kWUUNsRC5
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 22, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne remains a long-term absentee with a thigh injury. Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish are expected to return next week. Mateo Kovacic and John Stones will be assessed closer to kick off, and they are likely to be a part of the matchday squad.
Manchester City are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ederson Moraes in goal. Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol will continue as the full-backs, and they will look to help out offensively as well as fulfill their defensive responsibilities. Ruben Dias will start alongside Manuel Akanji at the heart of the defence.
Rodri should start alongside summer signing Mathus Nunes in the midfield pivot. The two players will look to add defensive cover and drive to the side.
Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku will be deployed as the wingers here, and they will look to add pace, flair and creativity from the flanks. Julian Alvarez will start as the central attacking midfielder behind Erling Haaland.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri, Nunes; Foden, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland
Nottingham Forest
Danilo is rolled out with a thigh injury and is expected to return next month. The likes of Serge Aurier, Willy Boly and Wayne Hennessy are likely to be a part of the matchday squad and they are close to returning.
The visitors are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation as well. Ethan Horvath will start in goal for Nottingham Forest. Ola Aina and Nuno Tavares will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to help out defensively and create counter-attacking opportunities. In the heart of the defence, Scott McKenna will start alongside Joe Worrall.
Ibrahim Sangare will start alongside Orel Mangala in the midfield pivot, and the two players will look to break up the opposition attacks and protect the central defenders. Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi will add flair and creativity to the side from the wide areas.
Morgan Gibbs-White will link the midfield with the attack from a central position, while Taiwo Awoniyi, who has contributed a goal or assist in each of his past nine Premier League appearances (G9 A2), will lead the line for the visitors.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Horvath; Aina, McKenna, Worrall, Tavares; Sangare, Mangala; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi
Key Stats
- Manchester City are in scintillating form and have won 17 of their last 19 matches in the Premier League.
- 20 goals have been scored in the last six matches between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.
- Manchester City have scored 11 goals in their last three matches.
- Nottingham Forest have conceded in five of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Julian Alvarez has scored 16 goals in 15 home starts for Manchester City in all competitions.
Key Player
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland was born to score goals ⚽ pic.twitter.com/pTuEU4LfDZ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 13, 2023
The 23-year-old has been in fine form for Manchester City so far, scoring seven goals in five league matches this season. Haaland has contributed with a goal or an assist in his last five matches for club and country.
The Norwegian international is a man in form and he should look to get all the score sheet here as well. Nottingham Forest have a vulnerable defensive unit, and the Manchester City striker is likely to cause all sorts of problems for them.
Prediction
Manchester City 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Manchester City are firm favourites heading into the contest against Nottingham Forest, and this should be a comfortable outing for them. The gulf in class between the two teams is enormous, and the home side will be expected to pick up a comprehensive victory.
Nottingham Forest have looked vulnerable defensively, and that is likely to be their undoing against the likes of Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden. The Hard Tackle predicts a straightforward 3-0 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.