Nottingham Forest host title-chasing Manchester City at City Ground in a difficult Premier League encounter.
Victory could see Forest go 12th if Crystal Palace lose elsewhere, whilst Leicester aren’t in action until Sunday afternoon.
Should Arsenal win at Lunchtime, Man City can return to the summit with a win or extend their lead should the Gunners slip up.
Team News
Jesse Lingard is a doubt for Forest as he struggles with knee and Achilles injuries.
Willy Boly and Scott McKenna are ruled out after suffering hamstring injures in their defeat at Fulham last weekend, with Boly set to be replaced in the 25-man squad by Steve Cook who was omitted from Forest’s squad submission after the transfer window shut.
Dean Henderson (muscle), Giulian Biancone (knee), Omar Richards (leg), Moussa Niakhate (thigh), Cheikhou Kouyate (hamstring), Ryan Yates (illness) and Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) remain absent.
Man City have no fresh injury concerns after their midweek win at Arsenal as John Stones (hamstring) remains absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Forest host Man City at the City Ground on Saturday 18 February in a 3pm GMT kick-off, albeit untelevised within the UK.
Stat Attack
- Nottingham Forest have lost two of their seven previous Premier League meetings against Man City (W2, D3, L2).
- Man City have won just one of their three previous Premier League trips to Forest (W1, L2), during which they have conceded four goals in their last two top-flight visits without scoring.
- None of the three draws between Forest and Man City in the Premier League finished goalless.
- Each of Forest’s last three league goals at home have been scored by Brennan Johnson (W2).
- Jack Grealish has scored in two of City’s last three away matches.
Prediction
With their five-match unbeaten league run over following defeat at Fulham, Forest now need to reset because they did well defensively despite early injuries to Boly and McKenna, yet were outclassed in midfield which is where they really lost the game despite Keylor Navas’ excellent saves.
This match though is a chance for Forest to show just how far they’ve come since losing 6-0 at City in late August, so I do expect them to go and play without much fear as underdogs and Navas could once again be crucial in limiting their losing margin.
Man City though were involved in a physical contest in midweek at Arsenal where their end product ultimately proved the difference, but will now have one eye on their Champions League trip to RB Leipzig which could create the need for rotation here to rest some key players.
Nevertheless, I do expect Man City to clinch another win here but Navas will be key in terms of how many goals they can net in this victory, unless Forest can spring a huge surprise as Liverpool and Chelsea have already discovered and City’s defence isn’t the most stable.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-3 Manchester City
Result: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Manchester City
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