Haaland Eyes Historic Premier League Record as Man City Prepare Forest Clash
Manchester City aims to conclude the year on a positive note by securing crucial three points in their Saturday afternoon encounter against Nottingham Forest.
The Citizens have been in exceptional form over the past month, claiming victory in their previous seven fixtures across all tournaments. Pep Guardiola's squad now trails Arsenal by merely two points in the Premier League championship chase, having regained their momentum after experiencing a temporary dip earlier this campaign.
A journey to the City Ground awaits Man City, who should fancy their chances against the 17th-positioned Tricky Trees, despite having several key players unavailable.
Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri continue their duties with Egypt and Algeria respectively at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The sidelined Oscar Bobb, Mateo Kovačić, Rodri and Jérémy Doku will also miss the encounter, while John Stones undergoes a final fitness assessment.
Here's how City might set up for this Premier League fixture.
Man City Predicted Lineup vs. Nottingham Forest (4-1-4-1)
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma—Donnarumma has allowed just one goal in his previous four outings, appearing increasingly settled in goal with his current club. The shot-stopper shouldn't face much pressure against Forest's weakened offensive line.
RB: Matheus Nunes—Since securing his starting position on the right side, Nunes has emerged as one of Man City's most reliable performers, producing excellent displays against teams like Real Madrid, Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
CB: Rúben Dias—Dias shouldn't need to overextend himself to contain Igor Jesus, who has managed only one Premier League strike this campaign.
CB: Joško Gvardiol—During the previous meeting between these sides in April, Gvardiol delivered an outstanding defensive display while also finding the net.
LB: Nico O'Reilly—With Aït-Nouri absent, Guardiola cannot afford to rest O'Reilly despite the young player's substantial recent playing time.
DM: Nico González—The Spanish midfielder has been a quiet but crucial presence in midfield while Rodri and Kovačić remain unavailable.
RM: Bernardo Silva—Coming off his 430th appearance for the Citizens, Silva's technical excellence will likely prove overwhelming for Forest to contain.
CM: Rayan Cherki—Few players have been more captivating to observe in recent weeks than Cherki. The French midfielder's creative abilities make Man City's offensive unit appear nearly unstoppable.
CM: Phil Foden—Foden's resurgence sparked Man City's seven-match winning run. The 25-year-old contributed seven goals and assists during this successful period.
LM: Tijjani Reijnders—The summer acquisition maintains his spot in Guardiola's starting eleven after recording a goal and assist in his last two outings.
ST: Erling Haaland—Another goal would see Haaland overtake Didier Drogba on the Premier League's all-time scoring charts. The Norwegian striker currently has 104, with 19 coming in the 2025–26 season.
