Manchester City will be looking to extend their 100% start to the season as they host Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Forest have reasons to be pleased with their campaign so far but should be no match for the superior quality of the champions.
Manchester City appear to have gone up another level this season as they are the only team in the Premier League still with a 100% record after five matches. They have breezed past their opponents so far and are two points clear at the top of the standings.
The Citizens came from behind to earn a 3-1 victory at West Ham in their previous Premier League fixture with Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland all on target. They followed that up with another 3-1 win as they eased past Red Star Belgrade in their opening Champions League fixture.
Although things appear smooth for Manchester City this season, they have been a bit suspect at the back. Pep Guardiola’s men are without a clean sheet in their last four matches across all competitions and have actually conceded first in the last two in that run.
Nottingham Forest travel to the Etihad off the back of a 1-1 draw with Burnley last time out in the Premier League. They struck just before the break through Zeki Amdouni but failed to hold on and were pegged back just after the hour mark.
Manager Steve Cooper has plenty of reasons to be pleased with his team’s start to the season as they are currently in the top half of the table. Forest have claimed two wins and a draw from five matches, a run that includes a 1-0 victory at Chelsea.
A major problem for Nottingham Forest this season appears to be an inability to maintain their discipline at the back. They have kept just one clean sheet this season, throwing away the lead a couple of times, the worst of which was the 3-2 to Manchester United after going two goals up.
How the bookies view it
Manchester City are considered overwhelming favourites among the bookies with a home win priced at 1/8 with William Hill. An unlikely victory for Nottingham Forest is valued at 20/1 by 10bet while BetVictor is offering odds of 15/2 for a draw.
Recent head to head
Manchester City were unbeaten against Nottingham Forest last season, claiming a 6-0 victory at the Etihad before battling to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in February.
Players to watch
Striker Erling Haaland is already the leading scorer in the Premier League with seven goals in five matches for Manchester City and is priced at 2/5 by bet365 to find the net on Saturday. Julian Alvarez is also enjoying a fine start to the season and with four goals in his last five appearances, could be worth keeping an eye on at 29/20 with William Hill.
Taiwo Awoniyi has slightly gone off the boil in recent weeks but remains Nottingham Forest’s most dangerous attacker. The Nigerian striker has three goals this season and is priced at 9/2 by bet365 to get on the score sheet.
Anything else catch the eye?
Manchester City and Nottingham Forest have not been particularly convincing at the back and given their attacking quality, both teams could be tipped to score at 5/4 with BoyleSports. The hosts have the quality to blow teams away and having won 6-0 at the Etihad last season, a -2 handicap could be considered at 13/10 with Paddy Power.
Manchester City won both halves at the Etihad last season and could be set for a similar outcome on Saturday at 11/10 with Coral.
This English Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest will be played on Sep 23, 2023 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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