Player Ratings: Cherki 8 shines but Forest denied City in the Etihad

Manchester City’s pursuit of the Premier League trophy hit a major snag after a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest left them seven points behind Arsenal, despite goals from Antoine Semenyo and Rodri.

​The reigning champions saw their control over the title race slip further away during a frustrating evening at the Etihad.

City initially took the lead through Antoine Semenyo, but they were twice pegged back by a resilient Nottingham Forest side.

While Rodri appeared to have secured the points with a second-half header, Elliot Anderson’s late long-range strike ensured the spoils were shared.

​Pep Guardiola’s men now face a steep mountain to climb, sitting seven points adrift of the Gunners with only one game in hand.

The lack of clinical finishing and uncharacteristic defensive lapses allowed Forest to escape with a point, piling the pressure on City ahead of their crucial upcoming fixtures.

​Manchester City Player Ratings

​Gianluigi Donnarumma: 7/10

The Italian shot-stopper was reliable throughout, pulling off several key saves to keep City in the hunt. He could do little about the opening goal after being wrong-footed by a deflection, but otherwise provided a steady presence between the posts.

​Matheus Nunes: 5/10

Nunes struggled to make an impact on the right, failing to offer the necessary width or creativity in the final third. Defensively, he looked suspect and was caught out of position on a few occasions as Forest looked to exploit the flanks.

​Marc Guehi: 6/10

It was a mixed night for the England international, whose passing was uncharacteristically sloppy at times. He was forced to rely on his defensive partner to bail him out and was arguably slow to close down Anderson for the visitors’ second equalizer.

​Ruben Dias: 7/10

Dias was the standout in the heart of the defense, reading the game well and making several vital interventions. He was unfortunately unlucky that the deflection for the Forest goal was so unpredictable, as his overall performance was near-flawless.

​Rayan Ait-Nouri: 7/10

A constant outlet on the left, Ait-Nouri’s energy was a highlight for the home side. He provided the pinpoint delivery from a corner for Rodri’s goal and remained an integral part of City’s transition from defense to attack.

​Rodri: 6/10

While he found the back of the net with a trademark powerful header, the Spaniard occasionally looked overrun by Forest’s quick-transitioning midfield. He will be disappointed not to have done more to prevent the late equalizer from the edge of the box.

​Bernardo Silva: 7/10

Silva was his usual industrious self, covering immense ground and constantly looking to probe the Forest defense. He was denied what looked like a certain goal by a spectacular save from Matz Sels in the second half.

​Rayan Cherki: 8/10

The most creative spark in the City lineup, Cherki was a constant menace. He provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal and created several high-quality chances that his teammates ultimately failed to convert.

​Phil Foden: 6/10

Foden showed flashes of his brilliance but struggled to maintain consistency throughout the match. He was unable to find the decisive pass or shot to unlock a stubborn Forest defense and was substituted late in the game.

​Antoine Semenyo: 7/10

Semenyo continued his fine form with a clinical finish to open the scoring. While he struggled to stay central to the action as the match wore on, his early contribution was a reminder of his growing importance to this attack.

​Erling Haaland: 6/10

Still finding his rhythm after a recent injury layoff, the Norwegian marksman lacked his usual predatory edge. He was largely starved of service but also struggled to create space for himself against a physical Forest backline.

​Substitutes

​Jeremy Doku: 6/10

Introduced for Foden to provide more directness, Doku found it difficult to get into the game. He was often crowded out by Forest defenders before he could turn and drive toward the goal.

​Abdukodir Khusanov: 6/10

Replacing Ait-Nouri late on, the defender slotted into the right-back role to provide more stability. He carried out his duties without major incident but couldn’t influence the offensive push.

​Savinho: 6/10

Brought on for Cherki in the closing stages, the Brazilian winger had little time to truly change the course of the match as Forest sat deep to protect their point.