Manchester City v Nottingham Forest: Prediction, Tips and Odds

There has been no festive cheer for Manchester City and they face another tough challenge when Nottingham Forest head to the Etihad Stadium for Premier League action on Wednesday evening.

Pep Guardiola's side suffered a huge title blow last weekend when losing 2-0 at table-toppers Liverpool, a result which saw the Citizens drop out of the top four and 11 points behind the Reds.

A swift response is required by City, who have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions, but they may not get that against a Forest side currently challenging for a top-four spot.

Manchester City v Nottingham Forest betting tips and predictions

Nottingham Forest to win or draw - double chance - 2/1

City's defeat at Anfield last time out extended their winless streak to seven games in all competitions, a run that has seen them suffer six losses and one draw.

The 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League was perhaps one of the more galling results, as the Citizens were pegged back from three goals ahead in the second half.

It's worth noting that just one of the defeats during this barren spell have come at the Etihad Stadium, a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Tottenham, and coming away from the blue side of Manchester with a positive result is still not an easy task.

However, City appear soft in the heart of midfield without Rodri and Mateo Kovacic and this is having a knock-on effect in defence, with more attacks coming their way than usual.

Injuries at the back and poor individual performances have contributed to City letting in 19 goals during this seven-game stretch, with two or more goals conceded in each of those contests.

A visit from Forest last season wouldn't have provided too many fears, as the club battled against relegation, but it has been a complete turnaround this term and the Tricky Trees are just one point and a place behind the Citizens.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side snapped a two-game losing streak when winning 1-0 at home to Ipswich Town last time out, leaving them right in the mix for a UEFA Champions League place.

Forest lost their last away outing, going down 3-0 at Arsenal, but they are the only team to have bested Liverpool this season when they won 1-0 at Anfield.

The Tricky Trees have also won at Southampton and Leicester City and drawn at Brighton and Chelsea, proving they are a tough nut to crack on the road.

Full of confidence, Forest look capable of getting a positive result from this encounter and backing them in the double chance market is the betting route to go down.

Morgan Gibbs-White to have over 0.5 shots on target - 11/8

There have been plenty of standout performers for Forest this season, notably nine-goal hero Chris Wood, but Morgan Gibbs-White has also been a crucial cog in this side.

While the 24-year-old England international has just one league goal and no assists to his name, he makes the team tick and Forest have lost just one of the nine games he has started in the top-flight.

Gibbs-White had three efforts at goal against Ipswich, two of those ending up on target, with only Wood having more attempts on goal than the midfielder for the Tricky Trees.

With City looking frail in midfield and at the back, Gibbs-White looks capable of taking advantage of this and testing the goalkeeper at least once.

Matheus Nunes to be booked - 5/1

A barren run of form can often cause frustration in a player and that has been no different for City ace Matheus Nunes, who has been ill-disciplined of late.

Portugal international Nunes was cautioned in the defeat at Liverpool last time out, his second booking from his last four starts after his yellow against Sporting in the UEFA Champions League.

The 26-year-old has made a joint-high 11 fouls for City in the league and it would be no surprise to see his name taken again at the Etihad.

Read more football betting tips and predictions on site

Manchester City v Nottingham Forest odds

Manchester City - 4/11
Draw - 15/4
Nottingham Forest - 8/1

View the full market and more odds for Manchester City v Nottingham Forest on site

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.