English Premier
2025-12-27 - Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 27th December 2025 - Kick Off 12:30pm
This game is live on TV
Nottingham Forest
Despite the latest Nottingham Forest defeat, there remains a real feeling that there is too much quality within the squad and too much experience in the dugout for the team to drop out of the Premier League. Sean Dyche may be going to the board and asking for some reinforcements to be signed in the January transfer window if the board want a genuine attempt at trying to win the Europa League alongside battling to avoid being dragged into the bottom three.
The defeat on Monday night has left Nottingham Forest in 17th place in the Premier League table, but they are only 5 points clear of former manager Nuno Espirito Santo's current club and that gap could change very quickly. The Tricky Trees have a 3-1-4 record at the City Ground and that is going to need to be improved in the second half of the season.
Nottingham Forest have won 6 of the last 9 games in all competitions, although the exceptions have all ended in defeat and all in the Premier League setting. Ange Postecoglou oversaw a heavy home defeat to Chelsea, which cost him his job, but Nottingham Forest have lost 1 of the 6 games played at the City Ground under Sean Dyche.
Dan Ndoye, Ryan Yates and Chris Wood are set to miss out alongside a couple of African Cup of Nations representatives.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola may have been downplaying the ambitions of Manchester City earlier in the campaign with the feeling being that this was going to be a season of transition, but they have moved menacingly behind Arsenal in the Premier League table. For a few hours last Saturday Manchester City even led the standings and everyone will be expecting this team to last the distance.
Once again they play before Arsenal this weekend and that gives Manchester City the opportunity to keep the pressure on the team they trail by 2 points in the Division. The 4-1-3 record away from home is a slight concern as Manchester City head into a couple of difficult looking away fixtures at Nottingham Forest and Sunderland.
Manchester City were very comfortable winners over West Ham United last Saturday and they have won 7 in a row in all competitions to build up some serious momentum. They were beaten at Newcastle United out of the November international break, but Manchester City have bounced back to win 3 away games in a row in all competitions.
John Stones is hoping to be available, while Rodri and Jeremy Doku are expected to need a few more days into the early part of the New Year.
Head to Head
Both of these clubs beat the other at home in the Premier League last season, while Manchester City won the FA Cup Semi Final.
Since returning to the top flight, Nottingham Forest have hosted Manchester City 3 times and there has been one win apiece.
Prediction
No one can argue with the run of results that Manchester City have been putting together and there is a confidence about this team that makes them very dangerous.
While some experienced, title winning players have left, Manchester City have a manager who knows how to get things done and there are plenty in this squad who are used to winning big trophies.
Manchester City have looked a little more settled defensively in recent games, even if opponents still have some moments of real threat, while they are scoring goals for fun. With Erling Haaland in stellar form and now being backed up by Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki, Manchester City will travel to the East Midlands filled with belief.
Sean Dyche will be frustrated with the defeat at Craven Cottage considering there was very little between his Nottingham Forest team and Fulham.
However, it does leave Nottingham Forest looking over their shoulders and this looks a tough game for them, even if they have lost just 1 of the 6 games played at the City Ground under the current manager.
Last time out here they got the better of a really poor Tottenham Hotspur, but Sean Dyche will appreciate that he has overseen a good looking schedule. Only Manchester United and Brighton have visited as top half Premier League clubs and Nottingham Forest were well beaten by the latter and second best in the first half against the former.
They did beat Manchester City here last season behind a solid defensive performance and Dyche is likely going to set up in a similar way.
He will hope his team can show some resilience a couple of days after Christmas Day, but that looks a big challenge considering the way Nottingham Forest performed in the home loss to Brighton.
If they allow Manchester City to pick up some momentum, it will be difficult for Nottingham Forest to contain the visiting team and it could all result in Pep Guardiola's side moving back on top of the standings for a few hours again.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
