Manchester City will look to get their fourth win of the season when they welcome Nottingham Forest to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Venue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester)
Key Statistics
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 16 league games (W12, D4).
The hosts have scored 3+ goals in each of their last four games.
They have won their last six league games at the Etihad, scoring 3+ goals in each of them and keeping three clean sheets.
City have won their last 20 league games played on a Wednesday.
Nottingham Forest have lost their last six PL games against reigning champions by an aggregate score of 23-3.
They have not conceded more than two goals away from home in their last 73 league games.
Forest’s goalkeeper Dean Henderson has conceded from just one of the five penalties he has faced in the Premier League.
Head to head
Manchester City and Nottingham Forest have four wins apiece in each of their last ten meetings. Although only three of those meetings came in the Premier League.
Latest performances in all competition
Manchester City: W-D-D-W-W
Nottingham Forest: L-W-D-W-L
Manchester City
Manchester City continued their unbeaten start to the season last weekend when they came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 4-2 thanks to a hattrick by summer signing Erling Haaland.
The result was the second time in two games Pep Guardiola’s side were coming from two goals down to snatch points in a game after they had to come from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Newcastle United in round three.
Such has been the resilience of the Cityzens who have proven that they are ready to give all they can to retain the title they won on the last day of last season when they came from two goals down to defeat Aston Villa.
With 12 wins in their last 16 league games (D4), they welcome Forest looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league to 17 games. They have the platform and quality to achieve this and will look to capitalise on their home advantage where they have won each of their last six Premier League games.
Possible Manchester City starting line-up
Ederson Moraes, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Joao Cancelo; Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland.
Injured: Aymeric Laporte
Doubtful: Nathan Ake, Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips
Suspended: None
Nottingham Forest
Despite losing 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, Nottingham Forest will feel proud of themselves for putting up such a good fight.
In an entertaining game at City ground, the Premier League newbies were the better of both teams. They controlled more of the ball and troubled the Spurs backline. But for all their endeavour and the heroics of goalkeeper Dean Henderson who saved a penalty in the game, they could not go home with a point as a brace from Harry Kane was enough to win the game for Antonio Conte’s men.
And so, they will travel to the Etihad confident and full of belief that they can hurt City if they can play the way they did against Spurs.
However, the Tricky Trees will have to perform better than they have done in recent times against reigning league champions as they have lost each of their last six league games against reigning champions.
Possible Nottingham Forest starting line-up
Dean Henderson; Joe Worrall, Steve Cook, Scott McKenna; Neco Williams, Jack Colback, Emmanuel Dennis, Lewis O’Brien, Harry Toffolo; Brennan Johnson, Taiwo Awoniyi.
Injured: Omar Richards, Moussa Niakhate
Doubtful: Orel Mangala
Suspended: None
Prediction
Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa
