Preview: Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Manchester City square off against Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon looking to keep their Premier League title bid in their own hands.

At a time when the defending champions begin the weekend in second place in the standings with a game in hand, Forest are just one point above the relegation zone.

Match preview

Despite sitting in second position in the table, there is an assumption that Man City will do what they need to do in order to win a record fourth successive Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola's side held a 17-match unbeaten streak in the top flight, a run which has lasted since December, when they made the trip to the American Express Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night.

That undefeated run was swiftly extended to 18, with City moving 3-0 ahead within 34 minutes on the South Coast and eventually scoring four goals for the fourth league fixture in succession, becoming just the third team to achieve that feat.

With Liverpool losing to Everton earlier in the week, City now sit two points clear of the Merseyside giants having played a game fewer, but their focus will be on chasing down leaders Arsenal.

City will have one eye on the North London derby between the Gunners and Tottenham Hotspur that takes place before this meeting at the City Ground, yet Guardiola will stress to his side that they must only prioritise taking care of their own business.

Guardiola will also remind his players that they can unstuck at Forest in last season's corresponding fixture when the East Midlands outfit battled their way to a 1-1 draw.

Nevertheless, this is a Forest side that face a team who are unbeaten in 30 matches in all competitions when they have won just one of their last 10 games.

That came against Fulham on April 2, with Forest having since collected just one point from three games against Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton.

Forest responded to losing 2-0 to Everton by posting a bizarre statement on social media, questioning the integrity of the VAR official after three penalty appeals went against them.

Furthermore, Forest are also waiting to discover the outcome of their appeal over a four-point penalty for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, with that expected in the coming days.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side must first try to extend their unbeaten record at the City Ground to four games, while they have only lost seven of 17 such fixtures on familiar territory this campaign.

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:

Manchester City Premier League form:

Manchester City form (all competitions):

Team News

Erling Haaland has missed the last two fixtures with a minor muscle issue and appears doubtful to return to the Man City XI for this contest.

Guardiola was able to rest five of his key men during the closing stages at Brighton, but the Catalan may consider tinkering with his side given that his top goalscorer is the only injury doubt.

John Stones, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku are most likely to be recalled in central defence or on the left flank respectively.

Meanwhile, Forest are again likely to be without Taiwo Awoniyi due to a thigh injury. The best-case scenario is a return to the substitutes' bench.

Willy Boly is also absent, but Nuno could look to bring Anthony Elanga back into the starting lineup as a replacement for Giovanni Reyna.

Moussa Niakhate made his first appearance in two months last time and will hope to retain his spot in the middle of defence.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup: Sels; Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina; Dominguez, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Kovacic, Foden; Alvarez

We say: Nottingham Forest 1-4 Manchester City

With Forest well-rested and motivated after the defeat to Everton, City will be faced with a riled-up City Ground. Nevertheless, we still expect City to make relatively light work of Nuno's side, running out convincing victors like they did at Brighton.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.