Rico Lewis in for Kyle Walker, Julian Alvarez starts – Predicted XI: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City (Premier League)

Manchester City will look to maintain their place at the top of the Premier League table with a win against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground this weekend.

City have the chance to keep the pressure on the Gunners following a fantastic 1-3 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, courtesy of goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland.

That impressive and crucial win for Pep Guardiola and his players moved Manchester City back up to first position in the table – for the first time since early November.

Arsenal do of course have a game in hand and will be playing the early kick-off away against Aston Villa on Saturday, so Pep Guardiola’s side must ensure that they do not falter this weekend if they want to maintain top spot.

The reigning Premier League champions dominated Nottingham Forest in the reverse fixture back in August, with an impressive 6-0 win at the Etihad Stadium, and will be looking for a similar performance away at the City Ground this time out.

Steve Cooper’s side have entertained impressive form of late, accumulating 11 points following a five-game unbeaten Premier League run, ending with a defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage last weekend.

Forest maintain solid home form though, with 75 per cent of their points this season coming from their performances at the City Ground, winning five and drawing three of their 11 home matches in their 2022/23 campaign.

Ahead of the upcoming Premier League tie against Steve Cooper’s side, here is how we predict Pep Guardiola will set up his Manchester City line-up at the City Ground.

Predicted XI

Ederson will be expected to maintain his ever-present place in goal and hope to keep a clean sheet against Nottingham Forest, after conceding in the past three Premier League games.

This season, Pep Guardiola has become known to consistently rotate his defence, with the likes of John Stones being injured and the return of a now fully-fit Ruben Dias. We expect youngster Rico Lewis to make the team sheet ahead of Kyle Walker following a short stint on the sidelines.

Captain Ruben Dias has been highly influential in changing Manchester City’s dynamic with his strong and decisive presence at centre-back. Pep Guardiola may decide to couple the Portugal international with Aymeric Laporte, giving the Spaniard the opportunity to put in a strong performance with his fantastic build-up play.

Despite using Bernardo Silva as a makeshift left-back during City’s game against Arsenal, we expect Guardiola to opt for Nathan Ake to operate in this position, with the Dutchman having provided consistently impressive performances all season.

Following questions on his recent form, Kevin De Bruyne proved his world-class ability with an emphatic performance against the Gunners, so we expect him to operate his usual position in central midfield at the City Ground.

Rodri should also operate as Manchester City’s defensive midfielder despite competition from a fully-fit Kalvin Phillips. Captain Ilkay Gundogan is also expected to start as Pep Guardiola may decide to rest Bernardo Silva ahead of a crunch Champions League tie next week.

Despite criticism surrounding his huge price tag and his performances at Manchester City, we expect Jack Grealish to form part of the attack, having recently proved critics wrong, maintaining a run of excellent form this season alongside a great goal against the Gunners.

Erling Haaland, who scored one of his four hat-tricks in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest earlier this season, is expected to continue in attack and be hopeful of putting in another dominant performance at the City Ground as he did at the Etihad in August.

Whilst Riyad Mahrez could also start, as the Algerian is one of only two players to score double digits this season, Pep Guardiola may use his usual rotation and start World Cup winner Julian Alvarez instead, with the Argentine international scoring a brace the last time Manchester City played Nottingham Forest.

Predicted XI: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Laporte, Ake; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Alvarez, Haaland, Grealish.

Substitutes: Ortega, Walker, Akanji, Gomez, Phillips, Bernardo, Foden, Mahrez, Palmer.