Manchester City eager to extend winning streak as festive run arrives.
Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City kicks off at 12:30 [GMT] on Saturday, December 27, at City Ground.
Forest stunned City with a 1-0 victory in March last season, their first league win over the Citizens since 1997, and they now chase consecutive league victories against City for the first time since September 1995. Thankfully, Forest have won each of their last four Premier League matches played between Christmas and New Year, all coming across the 2023 and 2024 calendar years. The most recent of those victories came on 29 December last year, a narrow home win over Everton, highlighting Forest’s tendency to grind out results during this period. However, their attacking issues remain a concern. They have failed to score in nine different Premier League matches this season, second only to Wolves. Home form, once a clear strength, has dipped sharply. Forest collected 29 points from 12 home games between October and early April last season, with only Liverpool bettering that return. Since then, they’ve taken just 11 points from their last 12 home league matches, placing them among the weakest home sides in that stretch. In addition, the managerial matchup further tilts the balance. Forest boss Sean Dyche is winless in 16 Premier League meetings with Guardiola, drawing just twice and losing 14 times. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Igor Jesus in attack is expected against the Sky Blues.
City’s visits to the City Ground have not always been straightforward. Half of their Premier League away games against Forest have seen them fail to score, though crucially, they have avoided defeat every time they’ve found the net. That ability to control outcomes even on difficult ground remains one of Pep Guardiola’s side’s defining traits. Manchester City, however, is equally formidable at this time of year. They are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches played between Christmas and New Year, winning eight and drawing two since a defeat to Wolves in December 2019. Momentum is also firmly on their side, with City winning each of their last three league matches by a 3-0 scoreline. They now sit on the brink of history, as no team has ever won four consecutive top-flight games by three or more goals to nil. With only two points adrift of league-leading Arsenal, who have 39 points, victory for the Sky Blues in this early kick-off clash would leave City temporarily at the top of the table before the Gunners take on Brighton at teatime. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Erling Haaland in attack is expected against Forest. Erling Haaland remains the headline threat. He has scored 19 league goals already this season and needs just one more to become the first player ever to reach 20 Premier League goals before the end of the year in two separate campaigns.