Mark Lawrenson believes that Nottingham Forest's inability to retain the ball against Manchester City will be their downfall this weekend.
The two sides meet at the City Ground for the first time in 22 years this Saturday, with the game kicking off at 3pm. At the time they were both in the second tier striving to reach the Premier League; since then Man City have won the league six times, while the Reds are only now back in the top flight.
The stark difference between the teams was on full display back in August, when Pep Guardiola's charges put six past Forest at Eastlands. Steve Cooper has improved the performance of his side immensely from those difficult opening weeks of the campaign, but this could be the best team they have ever hosted on their home patch.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola praises Forest faithful ahead of City Ground trip
SEE ALSO: Man City 'need' to make big Forest decision ahead of PL clash
Lawrenson revealed that he wished the Welshman good luck for the encounter when they crossed paths this week, but the former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender is expecting Kevin De Bruyne to leave his mark on the game, as he has been doing with typical brilliance in recent weeks.
"I bumped into Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper at the Merseyside derby on Monday," he wrote in his weekly Paddy Power column. "I asked him who they had at the weekend. When he said Manchester City I just said, ‘Good luck’ and all he could do was smile.
"The problem for Forest is having enough of the ball to create anything, let alone keeping Manchester City out at the other end. The way Kevin De Bruyne’s playing at the moment you have to fancy City in every game."
The pundit predicts a 2-0 victory for the visitors this weekend.
What's your prediction? Comment below!
READ NEXT:
