Premier League serial champions Manchester City will take on Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday at City Ground.
The defending champions will hope to stay in touch with Premier League high-flyers Arsenal, who will battle Aston Villa hours earlier as they seek to return to the Premier League summit.
Manchester City will be buoyed by a classic display against the Gunners at Emirates Stadium which saw the star-studded side thumped Mikel Arteta boys in style.
City rose to the Premier League summit for the first time since November after defeating Arsenal 1-3 at the Emirates Stadium.
The win opened up the Premier League title race although the Gunners still have a game in hand.
A win for Manchester City at City Ground will see Pep Guardiola bag two away victories in the Premier League in three days.
Match Preview
Manchester City will only go into the match against Nottingham Forests as league leaders if Arsenal stumbles again against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
Whatever the outcome of the early kickoff between Arsenal and Aston Villa, Manchester City will return to the summit of the Premier League table if they secure a win against Nottingham Forests. However, the Gunners must not beat Aston Villa by 10 unreplied goals – an unlikely outcome.
Manchester City’s biggest win this season came against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick.
Forests have enjoyed a brilliant five-game run that saw them stay off the relegation battle in the Premier League.
Their five-match unbeaten run ended with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Fulham in their last game.
At home, they have proved a tough nut to crack and have gone seven matches unbeaten, turning the City Ground into a fortress.
However, Steve Cooper will face a tough test against the title-chasing City as Pep Guardiola prepares to hit the City Ground with his star-studded side.
Team News
Nottingham Forest will miss two of their top defenders Wily Boly and Scott Mckenna. Both players were injured in the match against Fulham.
New signing Felipe is expected to make his debut for the club. Joe Worral and Shelvey are also expected to start.
Newcastle loanee Chriswood is also likely to make Steve Cooper’s attacking lineup, including Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson
Manchester City, on the other hand, have John Stones on the club’s injury list. The club will miss the veteran defender in the game.
Pep Guardiola is more likely to continue with his starting lineup against Arsenal, with Erling Haaland, Bernardo Sylva, and Dias and Kyle Walker starting for the team.
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup: Navas; Aurier, Worrall, Felipe, Lodi; Danilo, Freuler, Shelvey; Gibbs-White; Johnson, Wood
Manchester City’s possible starting lineup: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Laporte; Rodri, Bernardo; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland
Prediction
City dominated proceedings the last time the two teams met. The match is expected to go the way of Manchester City with the Etihad club winning 1-3 after the final whistle.
