Manchester City Host Nottingham Forest in Pivotal Clash at the Etihad

Manchester City will welcome Nottingham Forest to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening, desperate to arrest their alarming slump in form. The defending champions have suffered four consecutive Premier League defeats, the latest being a humbling 2-0 loss to Liverpool, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side a staggering 11 points adrift of the league leaders after 13 matches.

The picture is equally grim across all competitions. City’s last home outing ended in frustration as they surrendered a commanding 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League. It has now been seven matches without a victory for Guardiola’s men, raising serious questions about their title defence and broader ambitions this season.

Nottingham Forest Sensing an Opportunity

In contrast, Nottingham Forest come into this encounter buoyed by a morale-boosting win over Ipswich Town, secured by Chris Wood’s penalty. That result halted a mini-slump of back-to-back defeats against Newcastle United and Arsenal.

Forest, under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo, sit just a point behind City in the table. A victory at the Etihad would not only pile further misery on Guardiola’s side but also see Forest leapfrog the reigning champions—an extraordinary turn of events in a season full of surprises.

Key Match Details

• Date and Time: Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 7:30 PM GMT

• Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Broadcast Information:

• TV Coverage: Amazon Prime Video (from 6:30 PM GMT)

• Live Stream: Available via Amazon Prime’s app and website

• Highlights: Match of the Day on BBC One at 10:40 PM GMT

Team News and Predictions

Manchester City have reported no fresh injury concerns following their defeat to Liverpool. However, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Mateo Kovačić remain unavailable, while John Stones is a doubt as he continues to recover from an injury sustained in late October.

For Forest, their away record provides cause for optimism. Espírito Santo’s side have lost just once on the road in the league this season and famously secured a victory at Anfield.

City’s defensive frailties are a growing concern, and with Forest brimming with belief, another frustrating night could be on the cards for Guardiola. This fixture, typically one City would be expected to win, now feels anything but predictable.