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Nottingham Forest (5-4-1-): Sels; Williams, Niahkhaté, Boly, Murillo, Aina; Elanga, Danilo, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood. Subs: Turner, Sangaré, Toffolo, Reyna, Yates, Origi, Montiel, Omobamidele, Ribeiro.
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Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodrigo, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Doku, Álvarez, Grealish. Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Stones, Kovacic, Haaland, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis.
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It’d probably be good manners to wait for the North London derby to finish prior to preambling here, but that’s not really possible given the timings nor does it feel altogether necessary given Tottenham and the general course of dealing. Because, like all great champions, Manchester City are phenomenal at doing whatever it takes to earn one point more than whichever challenger fancies depriving them of the title, their unshakeable confidence inspired by a manager whose style of play is the hardest to beat in football history.
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Forest, though, are – despite their lowly position – no pushovers. Backed by a raucous crowd desperate to help them stay up, their muscular speed and invention, especially on the counter, can be a threat to City – if they can keep the back door shut.
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If. Just a week ago, Forest conceded twice to Everton, an achievement not easily accomplished, while City have hit devastating form with their usual mortifying ease and inevitability. Since drawing 0-0 with Arsenal, they’ve scored four against Villa, four against Palace, five against Luton and four at Brighton or, put another way, Forest are in trouble. But they have the tools to extricate themselves from it and if they can, the title race and relegation battle will look very different tonight. Even if they can’t, though, this should be a decent afternoon’s intensity, so let’s wade right in.
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Kick-off: 4.30pm BST
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Key events
As for City, Pep Guardiola refreshes a little, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish coming in for Phil Foden and Matteo Kovacic. Foden isn’t in the squad as he’s ill, while Kovacic retreats to the bench.
Back to the teams, Nuno Espírito Santo makes two changes to the side that lost at Everton, Nicolás Domínguez and Gio Reyna dropping out – the firmer must be injured – with Anthony Elanga and the fit-again Wily Boly coming in.
There’s been a livener at Spurs…
An actual post from a FB ⚽️ Group pic.twitter.com/ogLxrnFPXo
— Don Williams (@Don_K_Williams) April 27, 2024
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Teams!
Nottingham Forest (5-4-1-): Sels; Williams, Niahkhaté, Boly, Murillo, Aina; Elanga, Danilo, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood. Subs: Turner, Sangaré, Toffolo, Reyna, Yates, Origi, Montiel, Omobamidele, Ribeiro.
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodrigo, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Doku, Álvarez, Grealish. Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Stones, Kovacic, Haaland, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis.
Preamble
It’d probably be good manners to wait for the North London derby to finish prior to preambling here, but that’s not really possible given the timings nor does it feel altogether necessary given Tottenham and the general course of dealing. Because, like all great champions, Manchester City are phenomenal at doing whatever it takes to earn one point more than whichever challenger fancies depriving them of the title, their unshakeable confidence inspired by a manager whose style of play is the hardest to beat in football history.
Forest, though, are – despite their lowly position – no pushovers. Backed by a raucous crowd desperate to help them stay up, their muscular speed and invention, especially on the counter, can be a threat to City – if they can keep the back door shut.
If. Just a week ago, Forest conceded twice to Everton, an achievement not easily accomplished, while City have hit devastating form with their usual mortifying ease and inevitability. Since drawing 0-0 with Arsenal, they’ve scored four against Villa, four against Palace, five against Luton and four at Brighton or, put another way, Forest are in trouble. But they have the tools to extricate themselves from it and if they can, the title race and relegation battle will look very different tonight. Even if they can’t, though, this should be a decent afternoon’s intensity, so let’s wade right in.
Kick-off: 4.30pm BST