Man City look to reclaim the Premier League lead behind Erling Haaland’s historic scoring pace as they face a Nottingham Forest side battling inconsistency and significant player absences.
Manchester City travel to the City Ground on Saturday aiming to move to the top of the Premier League table following a dominant seven-game winning streak.
Despite a trophyless 2024/25 campaign, Pep Guardiola’s side appears to be “peaking at precisely the right time.”
The visitors are heavily favored to continue their momentum against a Nottingham Forest side that has struggled with consistency since manager Sean Dyche took charge in October.
The match features a prolific Erling Haaland, who has already netted 25 goals this season.
Haaland’s clinical form makes him the primary threat to a depleted Forest defense, especially given his history of five goals in six appearances against the club.
While Dyche has secured notable wins over Liverpool and Tottenham, the report notes that “stringing three or four wins together in the New Year could be top of his wishlist.”
Both squads are hindered by absences due to injury and the Africa Cup of Nations.
Forest will miss key players Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangaré, while City are without Rodri, John Stones, and AFCON participants Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri.
Despite Dyche’s reputation for defensive organization, analysts predict a 3-1 victory for City, noting that “Dyche is no mug, however, and will set up his team to frustrate City.”