Follow live coverage as Manchester City face Nottingham Forest today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Manchester City FC 2 - 0 Nottingham Forest FC
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:19HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:18After a push from Jota Silva on Gundogan, Forest's brief offensive impetus draws to a close. It's then announced that we will play just the one minute of added time.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:17Yellow Card Nicolás Martín Domínguez
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:16Dias is high from the back and works well with Silva on the right before creeping in behind. He goes to the right byline and tries to slide it to Haaland, yet Yates gets a vital touch and Forest can reclaim the ball and clear.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:15Doku switches briefly to the right side now. He links up with De Bruyne who plays the winger in down the channel with Wood all the way back to defend. He takes to the floor under the Kiwi's challenge, yet the referee doesn't buy the penalty shout!
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:13Ortega under pressure! Elanga jinks down the left byline before trying to find Wood. The defence close around the Kiwi, before it falls to Ortega who just about sorts his feet out to clear. Forest come again with Gibbs-White feeding Moreno again on the left byline. He then shoots and Grealish blocks brilliantly. And we were told he was some sort of winger not a defender?
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:11Following a poor pass from Haaland just inside his own half, Forest respond well and surge forward. It goes out wide to Silva who crosses. Wood misses and it's all the way back to Elanga who can't quite get the purchase as he curls one wide of the right post.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:09Just as Silva crosses a little too high for Haaland at the left post, how about another fact? In seven of the last eight Premier League games Kevin De Bruyne has scored in, he has also recorded an assist. That's some impact...
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:08Manchester City now lead by two goals in a Premier League game for the first time since October 5th against Fulham (won 3-2). Now they look to assert their dominance further, with Forest camped deep in their own third. However, the final ball from Silva is poor and the visitors clear.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:07With that goal, De Bruyne has scored his second goal in the Premier League this season, netting for the first time since 24th August 2024 against Ipswich Town.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:04Assist Jérémy Baffour Doku
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:03Wood! That's a massive chance that's gone begging! De Bruyne's pass back to Dias evades the Portuguese and Wood races through one-on-one with Ortega before curling his effort just wide of the bottom-left corner! Perhaps he had too much time to think about that one...
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:03Goal Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:02Elanga whips in the corner. Milenkovic rises, although Silva nearly gets in his way. The header floats harmlessly over.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
20:01Dominguez breaks up a City passing move and Elanga drives at Akanji but the Swiss deals with him. He gets it back fortuitously before De Bruyne fouls him on the left. It's a bit soft, but a foul nonetheless. This is a great crossing position. Elanga takes and it's Haaland back to nod it behind for a corner.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:58Doku goes for an interchange with De Bruyne, yet as Aina deals with him at the left byline, he runs it too far and it's a goal-kick.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:57As they have done so far, Forest look for a quick response as Moreno drives down the left. However, his cross is rash and way too high for anyone in red.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:56De Bruyne flashes one low past Sels' right post! Silva laid off the captain and he drove down the right before just dragging his effort. The second City goal doesn't look far away, it must be said.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:55City build with the ball smartly on the edge of the Forest box from right to left. However, play stops as Gvardiol bodychecks Silva off the ball for a Forest free-kick.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:54Elanga has switched sides with Silva and looks all the better for it. He shifts past Akanji to win a free-kick on the left. However, the cross deep to the back post can't find Murillo and City eventually clear before Milenkovic hauls Doku to the floor. From the set-piece, Gvardiol flies forward as Haaland slips him in. He drags just wide of the right post!
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:53Forest don't use the resulting corner the best they could, yet still retain the ball as City sit patiently. Moreno is then played down the left and Akanji deals with him excellently. Doku then feels he was fouled by Dominguez, yet Michael Oliver waves his theatrics away.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:51Ortega! Great save! Silva sees a cross go too long from the right as Haaland loses the physical battle against Milenkovic. Forest then go up the other end and play inwards from the right with Jota Silva and Gibbs-White strikes... Ortega saves well down to his right!
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:48City have had 68% possession to Forest's 32% so far this evening. That early goal has definitely settled the nerves, although the hosts are more than ready to try and grab another as Gvardiol latches on to a Silva cross from the right... the header is flashed just wide of the left post!
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:46De Bruyne goes short to Grealish from the set-piece before it's back to the Belgian to cross. It's blocked for another corner on that side, of which goes a tad too long. Aina then shepherds Silva out of harm's way for a goal-kick.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:46Aina ushers out Doku on the left byline and now the hosts have another corner.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:44Interestingly with their earlier goal, Manchester City have now scored six goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half. That's more than any other team in the Premier League this season.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:43After a shot on target from Wood, Forest keep driving forward for a response. In the next phase, Silva comes in from the left but drags his effort back the way he'd come for the visitors.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:43Silva has scored his first Premier League goal since January against Newcastle, ending a run of 29 league appearances without netting.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:41Assist Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:40Goal Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:39Sels saves from Haaland's effort! It was practically straight at the keeper, yet it was a save he had to make. Silva and De Bruyne worked decisively down the right before the captain pulled back for his Norwegian hitman in space. All it takes is a yard...
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:38Gundogan has a shot blocked from distance. Gvardiol then miscontrols the ball as he tries to enter the box.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:37De Bruyne is blocked on the right by Moreno and we have our first corner of the night. The Belgian takes and it doesn't beat the first man before being cleared.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:36After an early Forest offside, City have been offering some spirited formative attacks. Doku makes inroads on the left and plays in-field. However, Sels boots away.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:33And we're off as City's Belgian captain plays it back into his own half before the hosts come forward.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:33After this evening's head official meets with the two respective captains, there's an apprehension in the air tonight. City are in unfamiliar territory, staring their dwindling title hopes in the face. On the contrary, Forest are looking to continue their best start to a season since 1980 when they were champions of Europe. City will get us under way as De Bruyne takes the kick off.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:32Tonight's referee is Michael Oliver. We go through the pre-match theatrics and sky blue light show before he leads the steely-looking players out onto the turf to a great reception.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:18Anthony Elanga returns to the Nottingham Forest side along with Nicolas Dominguez and Alex Moreno as Nuno Espirito Santo makes three changes. Callum Hudson-Odoi, Neco Williams, and Elliot Anderson drop to the bench. Forest are looking for their first away win against City since 1989. Could this be the perfect time?
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:18Kevin de Bruyne is one of four changes to the Manchester City line-up from Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool. The Belgian takes over as captain as he starts for the first time since 18 September. Josko Gvardiol, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku are also included, while Phil Foden is not in the squad. Manchester City (37) have made more changes to their starting line-ups than any other team in the Premier League this season, making over three changes in seven straight league games in the same season for the first time since May 2021.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:18SUBS: Carlos Miguel, Eric da Silva Moreira, Morato, Neco Williams, Elliot Anderson, James Ward-Prowse, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ramon Sosa, Taiwo Awoniyi.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:18NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Alex Moreno; Ryan Yates, Nicolas Dominguez; Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jota Silva; Chris Wood.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:18SUBS: Ederson Moraes, Scott Carson, Kyle Walker, Jacob Wright, James McAtee, Matheus Nunes, Nico O'Reilly, Rico Lewis, Savinho.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:18MANCHESTER CITY (3-2-4-1): Stefan Ortega; Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol; Manuel Akanji, Ilkay Gundogan; Jeremy Doku, Beranrdo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish; Erling Haaland.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:13Currently outside of the Champions League picture let alone the Premier League title race, Manchester City have a seven-game winless run to end as they clash with Nottingham Forest at the Etihad this evening. Pep Guardiola's side couldn’t stop Liverpool’s momentum on Sunday, losing 2-0 to the runaway leaders. They have now fallen 11 points behind the Reds in the table. In their last time out, the Tricky Trees edged out Ipswich Town 1-0 to get back to winning ways. Looking to restart their fine run of form from the end of November, they’ll be sure to try and add to City’s recent misery. Sunday’s was the sixth defeat in 33 days for the despairing Guardiola’s squad. Will we see the seventh tonight, or can the fifth-placed Citizens turn it around against their sixth-placed visitors?
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:13Good evening everyone, and welcome to this live text commentary from midweek Premier League action. We have the remainder of the league's 14th matchweek ahead. Tonight, it's Manchester City v Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
19:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
17:30Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
