EPL - Manchester City v Nottingham Forest


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2024/25 English Premier League
Matchday 14
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
Etihad Stadium
Manchester, England
Wednesday, 4 December 2024
Kick-off is at 21h30
 
Manchester City will be desperate to end their mini slump in the Premier League when they welcome Nottingham Forest to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, December 4.
 
City's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on December 1 saw Pep Guardiola lose four consecutive league matches for the first time in his managerial career.
 
Indeed, the Citizens have failed to win their last seven games in all competitions and they've fallen well off the pace in the title race, sitting 11 points adrift of the table-topping Reds in fifth position.
 
Arsenal (2nd), Chelsea (3rd) and Brighton (4th) all climbed above Guardiola's side, while the Tricky Trees are breathing down their necks a further point back in sixth place.
 
Forest arrested a two-match losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Ipswich at the City Ground on November 30 as they went two points clear of Tottenham (7th) and Brentford (8th).
 
Nuno Espirito Santo really has worked his magic this season after struggling in his first six months at the helm, winning just six of his 21 matches last term as the Reds finished 17th to narrowly avoid relegation.
 
However, the Portuguese has already picked up six wins from his opening 13 games in 2024-25 which shows a remarkable improvement for the West Bridgford outfit.
  
The hosts continue to be without Rodri (knee), Oscar Bobb (calf) and Mateo Kovacic, although the trio should all return early in the new year. John Stones (ankle) missed the trip to Anfield and is rated doubtful for the visit of Forest.
 
Nuno has an almost fully-fit squad at his disposal, with Ibrahim Sangare (thigh) and Danilo (ankle) the only two confirmed absentees.
 
Guardiola was given hope by the performance of his players on Merseyside and believes the team will start firing on all cylinders once more when the injuries subside.
 
"The first 20 minutes we experienced [intensity and pressure] like when we came here in our prime," the Spaniard said.
 
"I saw how Ruben [Dias] came back. How good Nathan [Ake] controlled Salah. I want the team back. I want the players back. Three or four players came back [from injury] and the feeling from here is we started to build something.
 
"From here we're going to try to build, win games and regain our confidence. Then we are team and it's fantastic. I'm sitting here defending what we defend because these players give everything.
 
"The best years I lived in Manchester, and I have to find a solution to try to win games. If we gave up at Anfield and are not consistent, you go home with a terrible result. The team was there all the time."

Nathan AkeImage Source: Alamy Stock Photo
 
 
Nuno sang the praises of Chris Wood, who is flourishing under his guidance after scoring 20 goals in the league since his appointment in December 2023 - only Erling Haaland (25) and Cole Palmer (23) have scored more goals during that period.
 
"We are delighted. Not only here, but in New Zealand he's (Wood) going to break all the records. They are there to be broken, so we're delighted he keeps delivering," the Portuguese said.
 
"Nowadays players really take care of themselves, with nutrition, the rest - it's so important and Chris has this ambition to keep playing. He has to keep taking care of his body and his mind. He's perfect now and as long as he continues."
 

Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)

Matches - 5
Man City wins - 3
Forest wins - 0
Draws - 2
 

Premier League Matchday 14 fixtures:

 
Tuesday, December 3
 
21h30: Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace
 
22h15: Leicester City v West Ham United
 
Wednesday, December 4
 
21h30: Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
 
21h30: Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
 
21h30: Newcastle United v Liverpool
 
21h30: Southampton v Chelsea
 
22h15: Arsenal v Manchester United
 
22h15: Aston Villa v Brentford
 
Thursday, December 5
 
21h30: Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion
 
22h15: AFC Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur
 

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Published: 12/07/2024