Manchester City-Nottingham Forest is a match for the fifth day of the Premier League
MANCHESTER CITY – NOTTINGHAM FOREST | Wednesday 8.30pm
Another game, another comeback. As had happened seven days earlier in the away match against Newcastle – from 3-1 down to 3-3 – Manchester City came very close in last Saturday’s home match against Crystal Palace, who were two goals ahead at the end of the first half at the Etihad Stadium. Stones’ own goal and Andersen’s goal seemed the prelude to a bad day. But Pep Guardiola’s battleship, once they had got their heads together, put things right in the second half.
The comeback was started by Bernardo Silva, and then the ‘Haaland Show’ was on: the Norwegian slinger scored his first hat-trick since arriving in the Premier League. Across the Channel, his numbers are already astounding: the haul of six goals in four matches belies those who thought he would struggle to settle into the English top flight or that he did not fit into the coach’s schemes. But while these comebacks certify the Citizens’ offensive power, it cannot be denied that the defence is treading water. After keeping their goals unbroken against West Ham and Bournemouth, the reigning champions of England have conceded five goals in total in the last 180 minutes (eight if you include the friendly against Barcelona).
In the meantime there are already two points to make up on leaders Arsenal and Guardiola is contemplating an overtaking move in the midweek transfer window. Another newly promoted side, Nottingham Forest, are on the scene at the Etihad. Steve Cooper’s men have changed a lot in the transfer market in an attempt to make the team competitive and capable of reaching safety without major problems. The only two defeats came against superior sides (Newcastle and Tottenham) while between West Ham and Everton the Garibaldi Reds put four points in their pockets.
Lingard
The Prediction
The innumerable technical qualities of Manchester City’s offensive players are likely to create quite a few problems for Nottingham Forest’s defence, which was already put to the test last Sunday by Conte’s Tottenham. It is unlikely that the guests will be able to limit the damage. It will be a three-goal match at least, and it would be no surprise if Cooper’s men also score, given the Citizens’ recent difficulties in non-possession.
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest matchday squad
- MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Aké, Dias, Cancelo; Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Mahrez.
- NOTTINGHAM FOREST (3-4-3): Henderson; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; Williams, Yates, Freuler, Toffolo; Johnson, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
