Manchester City are in freefall. Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool means Pep Guardiola’s team are now without a win in their last seven games in all competitions with the defending Premier League champions a shadow of their former selves.
By Graham Ruthven
Nottingham Forest could add to City’s recent struggles. Not only have Nuno Espírito Santo’s team emerged as one of the surprise packages of this season, currently sitting sixth in the table, they could have the tactical profile to expose Manchester City as many other teams have in recent weeks.
Forest are at their best when they have open space to burst into on the counter attack with Anthony Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White all capable of deciding a match.
City will have the talent advantage at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, but with Forest renowned for being difficult to break down another tricky test awaits. There’s no guarantee seven games without a win won’t become eight.
Key players
Rúben Dias’ return from injury was one positive of Sunday’s loss to Liverpool. The hope for City is that the presence of the Portuguese centre back will help steady the defence of the Premier League champions. He could prove integral to any recovery against Forest.
Erling Haaland has failed to score in his last two league outings, representing a relative drought for the Norwegian striker. Nonetheless, Haaland will be a threat against a Forest side that have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four away games in the Premier League.
Kevin de Bruyne could be handed a start in an attempt to give Manchester City more creativity and guile on the ball. The Belgian hasn’t started a league match since the victory over Brentford in mid-September.
Only Haaland and Mohamed Salah have scored more Premier League goals this season than Chris Wood who netted the winner against Ipswich Town in his last outing.
In Nikola Milenković and Murillo, Nottingham Forest boast one of the strongest defensive pairings in the division right now. Both centre backs will have to be in top form to keep City at bay despite their well-documented recent struggles.
Team news
Rodri and Mateo Kovačić remained unavailable for Manchester City meaning Guardiola will likely have to rely on the likes of İlkay Gündoğan, Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva in the centre of midfield against Nottingham Forest.
John Stones missed Sunday’s trip to Merseyside to face Liverpool and will be assessed before Wednesday’s home match at the Etihad Stadium. Oscar Bobb still isn’t ready to return to first team action.
Danilo and Ibrahim Sangaré are both expected to miss Nottingham Forest’s match against the defending Premier League champions due to injury, but Nuno has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from.
Jota Silva could keep his place in the starting lineup over Elanga after catching the eye in the narrow victory over Ipswich. Elliott Anderson is another who could start having impressed recently in central midfield.
Prediction
One week on from the Champions League debacle against Feyenoord, could Wednesday be the day that the poor run comes to an end? Man City 2-1 Nottingham Forest
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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