Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest Predictions

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest predictions ahead of this Premier League affair. It has been a brilliant start of the season for the defending champions who are coming from an away win against West Ham. Can City rack up another big victory? Read on for our free betting tips and predictions.

Match Live Saturday, 23rd September at 3:00 pm In:

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest Predictions

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Epic Battle Looms: Manchester City Face Nottingham Forest at the Etihad

Manchester City, the current Premier League champions, are looking to keep their unblemished record intact as they prepare to play host to Nottingham Forest this Saturday at the Etihad Stadium. While City proudly perch atop the league, Nottingham Forest, having gathered seven points from their preceding four Premier League matches, currently lie in eighth place.

City’s Impressive Run

City supporters have had quite a bit to cheer about lately. Their team has impressively secured five straight wins in the Premier League. Notably, a 3-1 victory against West Ham United showcased the prowess of new acquisition Jeremy Doku, along with the finesse of Bernardo Silva and the dynamism of Erling Haaland. City demonstrated tremendous resilience, overturning a deficit in their recent 3-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade in their inaugural Champions League Group G game.

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This triumph further solidified City’s dominance at the Etihad, boasting a club record of 19 back-to-back home victories across all competitions. Their fortress-like form at the Etihad has been instrumental in their recent success. They’ve remained undefeated in 27 home games in the Champions League and have accomplished a perfect record in all 2023 Premier League home matches, netting 35 times.

The Nottingham Challenge

Despite facing setbacks, including a recent 1-0 EFL Cup loss to Burnley, Nottingham Forest have shown sparks of brilliance. A spectacular goal from debutant Callum Hudson-Odoi against Burnley gave the Forest fans a moment to savour, and their surprising 1-0 victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge will undoubtedly instill belief in Steve Cooper’s squad. However, a daunting task awaits them at the Etihad, where their last win dates back to a shock 3-0 FA Cup triumph in January 2009.

The Squad News

For Manchester City, the injury list seems to be growing with Bernardo Silva joining the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, and Jack Grealish. Fortunately, Mateo Kovacic might return, bringing his experience and stability to City’s midfield. Alvarez and Haaland are poised to continue their partnership upfront, building on their explosive performance against Forest last season.

Forest’s lineup presents some challenges. Harry Toffolo is out due to a suspension, and they face potential absences in Felipe, Wayne Hennessey, and Serge Aurier. However, there’s the exciting prospect of Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares making his starting debut.

Key Players to Watch

City’s Erling Haaland, with 7 Premier League goals already, remains a significant threat. Rodri and Julián Álvarez, having displayed stellar performances, are sure to be on Forest’s radar. On the other side, the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Willy Boly, and Morgan Gibbs-White stand out, having made significant contributions for Forest.

The Expert Predictions

1. Manchester City to Win with Over 3.5 Total Goals

When you delve into the recent form of both sides, particularly the host team, Manchester City have been in scintillating form. They’ve secured five wins out of five in the Premier League. Their ruthlessness in front of goal is evident, with the side netting 35 times in their 12 Premier League home matches this year alone. This staggering stat provides an indication of their attacking prowess and their ability to break down even the sturdiest of defences.

On the other hand, Nottingham Forest have shown resilience in their previous matches, but their record against the top teams, especially against City, is lacklustre. In their last three meetings at the Etihad, Manchester City have emerged victoriously, even recording a dominant 6-0 win in August 2022. Given these statistics, and the attacking form of Guardiola’s side, a Manchester City win combined with over 3.5 total goals in the match seems highly plausible.

2. Correct Score: Manchester City 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Predicting exact scores is always a tricky business in football, given the unpredictability of the sport. However, based on the performances and stats available, a 3-1 scoreline in favour of Manchester City can be justified.

Manchester City’s aggressive and high-pressing style of play, combined with their impressive attacking stats, makes them likely to bag multiple goals. Their average of nearly three goals per game at home supports this notion.

Nottingham Forest, while underdogs in this clash, have shown moments of brilliance, like their recent 1-0 victory at Chelsea. With City’s aggressive push forward, Nottingham might find opportunities on the counter-attack or from set-pieces, potentially nabbing a consolation goal.

3. Erling Haaland to Score Anytime

The Norwegian striker, Erling Haaland, has been in sensational form since his move to the Premier League. With seven goals already this season, he stands out as Manchester City’s top scorer. In last season’s encounter against Nottingham Forest, Haaland showcased his striking brilliance with a hat-trick.

Considering the magnitude of the game and Haaland’s incredible knack for finding the back of the net, he looks like a strong contender to add to his tally in this encounter. With the service he’ll receive from City’s midfield maestros, and with Forest’s defensive vulnerabilities showcased in their recent matches, Haaland seems primed to strike again.

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