Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest Predictions

• Manchester City are on a seven-match winless run which includes six defeats
• Nottingham Forest have won four of their last six games
• The Tricky Trees have lost just one away match this term, winning at Anfield and drawing at Stamford Bridge in that run

City could be set for further misery

A 2-0 loss at Anfield extended Manchester City’s unfathomable winless streak to seven games, the longest run without a victory in Pep Guardiola’s illustrious, 17-year career as a manager.

The champions looked lost against Liverpool – who are now 11 points ahead of them in the Premier League – lacking cohesion, consistently making defensive errors and struggling to create chances, just as they have done in the other six games in their miserable sequence.

Defeats to Brighton and Sporting Lisbon and a draw with Feyenoord are not results you would expect from such the best side in the world over the past five seasons, yet the Citizens deserved what they got in each of those fixtures, and another unexpected outcome could be on the cards on Wednesday.

Tricky Trees to continue fine form

While there is nothing to like about City right now, there is plenty to love about Nottingham Forest, who are flying high in sixth, just one point off the champions.

The Tricky Trees have picked up four wins from their last six games and they were mightily impressive against Ipswich on Saturday, putting in a performance which they will look to replicate at the Etihad against a side with similar principles to the Tractor Boys.

Both City and Ipswich look to keep the ball and play through the thirds. Forest completely disrupted that plan from the Tractor Boys on Saturday, though, limiting them to just seven shots and employing all sorts of dark arts to win free-kicks and run down the clock.

Nuno Espirito Santo will look to deploy similar tactics at City and, while the lack of a raucous City Ground cheering them on could be seen as a hinderance, it’s hard to imagine the Etihad faithful will be in fine voice following their side’s baffling winless streak anyway.

Wonderful Wood may provide the winning touch

It may seem outrageous to suggest Forest could beat City – the odds certainly suggest so – but it can’t be forgotten that the Tricky Trees are the only side to have beaten Liverpool this term, winning 1-0 at Anfield in September.

The Reds have also drawn with a ruthless Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and a solid Brighton at the AmEx this term and they gave a solid account of themselves against the champions last season, outshooting City on both occasions.

The price about a repeat of their 1-0 win at Anfield against an out-of-form City looks way too big to ignore and if any player is to net that crucial goal, it seems likely to be Chris Wood, who has netted five times in his last four Forest starts.