City are looking to keep the pressure on league leaders Arsenal as Pep Guardiola’s title challengers travel to the City Ground to play Nottingham Forest.
They suffered a blip at Craven Cottage on Monday but Forest have been much-improved since the appointment of Sean Dyche, who became their third manager of the campaign after the departures of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou, as they balance domestic commitments with their run in the UEFA Europa League.
Manchester City eased to a comfortable 3-0 defeat of West Ham with the irrepressible Erling Haaland notching another brace, playing alongside in-form attacking duo Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden, who is trying to break back into Thomas Tuchel’s XI for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Can Nottingham Forest deal a major blow to City’s title charge? AllSportsPeople brings you all the latest tips and odds for this Premier League clash.
Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City Prediction
Manchester City are expected to come out on top in what is an intriguing game for a Saturday lunchtime during the festive period, especially at the City Ground.
Despite Forest winning the corresponding fixture last season under Nuno, the sheer weight of their congested fixture schedule and Dyche having a much weaker record vs. Guardiola than the now West Ham boss, it shouldn’t be too tricky for the visitors.
Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City (8.40 with Dafabet)
Head-to-Head: Nottingham Forest vs. Man City
- The most recent clash between Forest and City came in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley Stadium last season as City defeated an underwhelming Forest side 2-0.
- Forest had won the league game at the City Ground last season, in March, but City have won five and drawn one of the last seven games between the two sides.
- Overall, the two teams have clashed on 107 occasions with Nottingham Forest winning 34 of those and City coming out on top in 45 matches.
Nottingham Forest vs. Man City: Form Guide
Nottingham Forest – Last 5 matches (All competitions)
- Fulham 1-0 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
- Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
- Utrecht 1-2 Nottingham Forest (UEFA Europa League)
- Everton 3-0 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
Man City – Last 5 matches (All competitions)
- Manchester City 3-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
- Manchester City 2-0 Brentford (EFL Cup)
- Crystal Palace 0-3 Manchester City (Premier League)
- Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City (UEFA Champions League)
- Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Nottingham Forest vs. Man City Betting Tips
Despite his manager dampening praise for his recent performances, Rayan Cherki is now playing extremely well after a period of transition from Ligue 1.
He will be tasked with putting up better numbers in terms of goals and assists. We're backing the former Lyon attacker to register a goal contribution at Forest having recorded 0.55 expected assists (xA) without a return against West Ham last weekend.
Betting Tip: Cherki Goal or Assist.
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Nottingham Forest vs. Man City Team News
Nottingham Forest Team News
- Nottingham Forest have a couple of CAF Africa Cup of Nations absentees as Ibrahim Sangare is away in Morocco alongside fellow Ivory Coast international defender Willy Boly.
- Nigeria international defender Ola Aina isn’t at AFCON but he remains sidelined for Forest through injury, with Nicolo Savona having filled in well at right-back after his move from Serie A giants Juventus.
- Versatile and now experienced midfielder Ryan Yates also remains unavailable with New Zealand international Chris Wood trying to force his way back from a knee injury.
Man City Team News
- AFCON has also had an impact on the Manchester City squad with Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush away with Algeria and Egypt respectively.
- Key man Jeremy Doku, who has found form alongside both Cherki and Foden, is also sidelined through injury for the time being.
- The Belgian is joined through injury by midfield duo Mateo Kovacic and Rodri, with young Norwegian Oscar Bobb having also sustained an issue in their recent EFL Cup quarter-final triumph against Brentford.
Nottingham Forest vs. Man City Lineups: Predicted Starting XI’s
This is how we think the two teams will lineup at the City Ground, with Cherki and Foden continuing behind the red-hot Haaland for in-form Manchester City.
Nottingham Forest predicted lineup to play Man City
Sels (GK) – Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams – Anderson, Dominguez – Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi – Jesus
- Out: Boly, Aina, Sangare, Yates, Wood
- Doubtful: Sels
- Suspension: N/A
Man City predicted lineup to play Nottingham Forest
Donnarumma (GK) – Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly – Gonzalez, Reijnders – Silva, Foden, Cherki – Haaland
- Out: Stones, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Kovacic, Doku, Marmoush, Bobb
- Doubtful: N/A
- Suspension: N/A
Nottingham Forest vs. Man City Odds
- Nottingham Forest to win: 5.15 with Dafabet
- Man City to win: 1.61
- Draw: 4.24
How to watch: Nottingham Forest vs. Man City Live Stream, TV Channel
- Date: Saturday, December 27
- Venue: City Ground, Nottingham, England
- Time: 6:00 IST
- TV/Stream: JioHotstar