Pep Guardiola will be hoping for a much more straightforward three points against Nottingham Forest than Manchester City's win over Crystal Palace at the weekend.
City had to come from two goals behind for the fourth time in six games stretching back to last season, with Bernardo Silva's brilliance and an emphatic Erling Haaland hat-trick securing a 4-2 comeback win. Next up are newly-promoted Forest, who looked good against Tottenham on Sunday and have started promisingly this season.
However, City would back themselves to beat last season's play-off final winners, especially at home, and will be focussed on the job in hand as well as looking ahead to a busy three weeks coming up. Including this game, City have six games in just 18 days, with some more difficult tests to come, so Guardiola may look to begin rotating his squad.
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After Ederson in goal, the back four may have to wait to be rotated with Aymeric Laporte out and Nathan Ake missing the Palace win and Barcelona friendly. Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo may have to start most of these fixtures until the international break, with Sergio Gomez an option off the bench to get more minutes for the team if City are winning comfortably.
If Kalvin Phillips is fit, this could be a chance to give him more minutes, although he missed the Palace win so Rodri may be a safer bet to start against Forest. Kevin De Bruyne may be managed in the coming weeks, and wasn't at his best against Palace, although he remains City's best player and creator, so should continue. Ilkay Gundogan's runs from midfield could be a key factor against Forest, with Bernardo then a dangerous option from the bench after a busy week.
In attack, Guardiola has already suggested that Erling Haaland won't play every game when the fixtures are coming every three days, and the boss has talked up Julian Alvarez this week. However, on the back of a hat-trick at the weekend, he surely can't drop Haaland, who could help win this game early before being withdrawn in the second half.
Alvarez helped change the game on Saturday so would deserve a start, with one option being that he begins on the wing and later moves centrally if Haaland is replaced. Phil Foden is in good form and can continue on the left, or possibly move over to the right if Alvarez reprises his surprising left-wing role from the weekend.
Man City Predicted Team vs Nottingham Forest: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Alvarez, Haaland, Foden
Select your chosen City XI below:
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