Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Manchester City vs. Nottingham Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 September 2023, 12:05
Seeking to preserve their perfect start in the Premier League, reigning champions Manchester City welcome Nottingham Forest to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

While the hosts are sitting pretty at the Premier League summit, the visitors currently sit eighth in the table after picking up seven points from their last four top-flight matches.

Match preview

Manchester City fans are understandably in buoyant mood after watching their side claim five wins from five Premier League games, including last weekend's 3-1 success away against West Ham United courtesy of strikes from summer signing Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.

Pep Guardiola's men had to come from behind at half time to claim maximum points in the capital, and they were tasked to do the same on Tuesday night when they began the defence of their Champions League crown at home to Red Star Belgrade, eventually conquering by a 3-1 scoreline in their opening Group G fixture.

Osman Bukari surprisingly put Red Star in front with their first shot on target on the stroke of half time, but a dominant Citizens outfit, who in contrast had 37 shots and 76% possession throughout the 90 minutes, turned the game on its head after the break thanks to a brace from Julian Alvarez and a composed finish from last season's Champions League final hero Rodri to help City extend their club record of successive home wins to 19 in all competitions.

Form at the Etihad has been a huge factor behind City's recent success, and not only do they boast a 27-game unbeaten home run in the Champions League - the third-longest run in the competition's history - they have also won all 12 of their Premier League home games in 2023, scoring 35 goals in the process.

Man City will fancy their chances of claiming another three points on Saturday and becoming just the second reigning Premier League champion after Chelsea in 2005-06 to win their opening six top-flight games of a season when they take on Nottingham Forest, who they have beaten in each of their last three home meetings without reply, including last season's thumping 6-0 triumph in August 2022.

Nearly three weeks on from losing 1-0 at home to Burnley in the EFL Cup second round, Nottingham Forest were on course to suffer the same defeat heading into the final half-hour of their Premier League clash with the Clarets on Monday.

However, debutant Callum Hudson-Odoi announced himself to the City Ground faithful with a stunning second-half strike from outside the area to rescue a 1-1 draw for Steve Cooper's side, in a game that Burnley were controversially denied a late winner by VAR because of a dubious handball.

Considering Forest have already faced Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea away from home this season, Cooper will be reasonably pleased to have seen his side accumulate seven points from their first five Premier League games, but another tricky away trip is on the horizon at the home of the reigning champions.

Forest's slender 1-0 victory at Chelsea in their last match on the road - one of just two away league wins in 14 games since the turn of the year - will breed confidence within Cooper's squad heading to the Etihad, but they enter Saturday's fixture having failed to win any of their last six league meetings with Man City.

The only time Forest have celebrated success at the Etihad was as a Championship club back in January 2009 when they stunned the Citizens with a 3-0 FA Cup win under former caretaker boss John Pemberton.

Manchester City Premier League form:

Manchester City form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:

Nottingham Forest form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

W

D

Advert - content below:

Team News

Man City' Bernardo Silva is ruled out for the "next few weeks" with an unspecified leg injury picked up in the win over Red Star, and the playmaker will join Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring), John Stones (muscle) and Jack Grealish (knee) in the treatment room.

Mateo Kovacic has missed the last two games with a muscle issue in his back, but Guardiola has suggested that the midfielder could return to the matchday squad on Saturday.

The absence of Bernardo will likely see Doku recalled to the first XI to start on the opposite flank to Phil Foden, while Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji will both be pushing to start in defence and could replace Nathan Ake and Sergio Gomez.

Alvarez scored his first two Premier League goals for Man City in last season's 6-0 home win over Forest, and the Argentine is expected to continue in attack alongside Haaland, who netted a hat-trick against the Tricky Trees in the same fixture.

As for Forest, Harry Toffolo (FA suspension) is ruled out and Saturday's game may come too soon for Brazilian midfielder Danilo, who missed the draw with Burnley due to a hamstring injury, while Felipe, Wayne Hennessey (both knee) and Serge Aurier (unspecified) are all injury doubts; Willy Boly (illness) will also be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Gonzalo Montiel, who was run ragged by Burnley's Luca Koleosho and withdrawn shortly after half time on his Forest debut, could be replaced by Ola Aina, who may start at either right-back or right wing-back depending on whether Cooper operates with a back four or five-man defence, while Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares could be handed his first start on the left side of defence.

Big-money summer signing Ibrahim Sangare and Orel Mangala could link arms again in the middle of the pitch, while Hudson-Odoi, Morgan Gibbs-White and former Manchester United man Anthony Elanga will all be hoping to retain their places in the final third along with striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Nunes; Foden, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Turner; Boly, Worrall, McKenna; Aina, Sangare, Mangala, Tavares; Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi

We say: Manchester City 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest have already caused plenty of problems on their travels to Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea this term, albeit the latter two teams are not at their best at present, and another positive display is required if they are to cause an upset on Saturday.

Previews by email

Top News

16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Czech Republic suffered a huge blow ahead of Euro 2024 when key midfielder Michal Sadilek was forced to withdraw from the squad due to an injury which he suffered while riding a bike. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo is set to lead the Portugal line in the country's Euro 2024 opener against Czech Republic, with the forward remaining a vital player for his country at the age of 39. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of the favourites for this summer's European Championship will take to the field on Tuesday evening, with Portugal opening their Euro 2024 campaign against the Czech Republic at Leipzig Stadium. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly pushing to hijack Real Madrid's proposed move for River Plate starlet Franco Mastantuono. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly received a significant boost in their pursuit of Crystal Palace's Michael Olise, as the Eagles have begun negotiations to sign a possible successor. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk French giants Lille have reportedly rejected an offer from an unnamed Premier League club for the services of 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will headline the Georgia side in the country's first-ever match in the finals of a major tournament on Tuesday evening. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella is expected to name Juventus' 19-year-old attacker Kenan Yildiz in his starting XI for Tuesday's Euro 2024 opener against Georgia. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Group F at Euro 2024 will get underway on Tuesday evening in Dortmund, with Turkey and Georgia locking horns for what is likely to be a very important match in the section. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AC Milan are reportedly considering a move for Chelsea striker Armando Broja during this summer's transfer window. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane believes that the Three Lions' squad for Euro 2024 may be the "best" that his nation have ever had. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus have reportedly moved into pole position to sign Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho, with the Old Lady cooling their interest in his teammate Mason Greenwood. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly have to come up with an offer of €50m (£42m) if they wish to sign Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt during this summer's transfer window. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France have received another timely injury boost before the start of their Euro 2024 campaign, as one of their fundamental cogs has returned to full training following injury. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly held talks with the representatives of Austrian youngster Oghenetejiri Adejenughure to discuss a move to Old Trafford this summer. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich marksman Harry Kane is poised to break a handful of England records when the Three Lions tackle Serbia in Sunday's Euro 2024 Group C opener at the Veltins-Arena. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Even before its first weekend of action is complete, the 17th European Championship has delivered a dizzying array of new bests and curious firsts. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has drawn level with Cristiano Ronaldo on a record-breaking number of Euros appearances, but he may only stand alongside his Portuguese foe for a matter of days. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mere weeks after a gruelling domestic season concluded for the continent's most celebrated talents, 24 teams and over 600 players are now going again with Euro 2024 supremacy at stake. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria vs. Internacional (Sunday, 8.00pm) Looking to secure their maiden win of the 2024 Brasileiro campaign at the ninth attempt, bottom side Vitoria will welcome Internacional to Estadio Manoel Barradas on Sunday afternoon. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ecuador vs. Honduras (Sunday, 8.30pm) Playing their final warm-up fixture ahead of the Copa America, Ecuador meet Honduras in Connecticut on Sunday evening. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Poland vs. Netherlands (Sunday, 2.00pm) Getting Group D under way at Euro 2024, Poland and the Netherlands meet at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion on Sunday. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool manager Arne Slot has reportedly given the thumbs-up to the Reds making a move for a highly-rated Eredivisie attacker in the summer transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly laid out their financial demands to let struggling attacker Emile Smith Rowe leave the club this summer. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of Arsenal's home-grown talents has reportedly informed the Gunners that he wants to assess his options for a transfer elsewhere in the summer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk European Championship holders Italy bounced back from an early setback to record a 2-1 victory over Albania in their Euro 2024 opener on Saturday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nedim Bajrami has broken a European Championship record after scoring in Albania's 2-1 defeat to Italy in their opening Euro 2024 Group B clash at Westfalenstadion on Saturday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia captain Luka Modric has said that his side must move on quickly from their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Spain in their opening match at Euro 2024. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain captain Alvaro Morata is confident that he will be available for his country's second match at Euro 2024 after suffering an injury scare against Croatia on Saturday evening.