Predicted Starting Line-Up: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

After a rare week off from action, Manchester City return to Premier League play as they travel to face top-four rivals Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Pep Guardiola’s side booked their spot in the FA Cup quarter-final with a routine victory over Championship outfit Plymouth Argyle last weekend, but the pressure will be cranked up a few notches on Saturday in Nottingham.

Points will certainly be at a premium as heading into the weekend, Manchester City sit in fourth place and just one point behind Nottingham Forest in third as the battle for UEFA Champions League places rages on.

But January signings Nico Gonzalez, Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, and Abdukodir Khusanov have reignited the Sky Blues’ campaign as of late, giving them new life in the final months of what has been a tumultuous season.

On the fitness front, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake remain out of the picture with injury issues, while Rodri remains on the shelf for the next few months as he completes rehab for his ACL tear suffered in September.

With those fitness issues in mind, let’s take a look at how Pep Guardiola could set his side up at the City Ground in a mammoth Premier League clash between the two sides on Saturday afternoon!

Predicted XI

Ederson has cemented himself as Manchester City’s number one once again after a recent spell out of the team, while making a handful of key saves for the Sky Blues as of late in big moments.

Meanwhile, Matheus Nunes was seemingly out of the picture at right-back in the early weeks of 2025, but after a solid showing against Tottenham last week he should be rewarded with another start.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Ruben Dias have proven to be a solid partnership in defence for the Sky Blues, and with the side missing John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, they will get the nod once again.

Out on the left-defensive flank, Josko Gvardiol will bomb up and down as usual and the Croatia international remains one of Manchester City’s most consistent performers so far this season.

A midfield partnership of Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva hasn’t been seen much since the former joined the club on deadline day in January, but they could give the engine room the perfect balance on Saturday.

It will be an attacking three ahead of the midfield double pivot, and we’ll start on the right-wing, where Savinho is beginning to put down roots in his first season as Manchester City star.

In the number 10 slot, Phil Foden will be given the role as Manchester City’s chief creator against Nottingham Forest in the absence of a prime Kevin De Bruyne in the side, despite an encouraging showing from the Belgian last time out.

On the left, Omar Marmoush is proving to be another example of shrewd recruitment by the Manchester City hierarchy in the winter window, and the Egyptian has thrived when playing as an advanced forward off the left.

Finally, talisman Erling Haaland will lead the line once again for the Sky Blues as he looks to chase down Liverpool’s in-form Mohamed Salah in the chase for yet another Premier League golden boot award.

Predicted XI: Ederson; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Nico, Bernardo; Savinho, Foden, Marmoush; Haaland.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Reis, Gundogan, Kovacic, McAtee, De Bruyne, Grealish, Doku.