Man City XI vs Nottingham Forest: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news and injury latest for Premier League | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola could make changes as crisis-stricken champions desperately try to end long winless run

Pep Guardiola could look to freshen things up in a bid to change Manchester City's fortunes when they face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

They also haven't scored in their last two outings in the top-flight and there's massive concerns defensively having conceded 19 goals since keeping their last clean sheet over a month ago against Southampton.

Currently 11 points off the pace in the Premier League title race, it's looking unlikely that the trophy will be heading back to the Etihad Stadium for a fifth straight year.

Although Guardiola has insisted that he saw enough during the loss at Anfield to believe the seven-game winless is about to end.

"I saw how Ruben [Dias] came back. How good Nathan [Ake] controlled [Mohamed] Salah," the Spaniard told reporters. "I want the team back. I want the players back. Three or four players came back [from injury] and the feeling from here is we started to build something.

Crisis: Manchester City are enduring a horrendous run of form under Pep Guardiola

REUTERS

“From here we’re going to try to build, win games and regain our confidence. Then we are a team and it’s fantastic. I’m sitting here defending what we defend because these players give everything.

"The best years I lived in Manchester, and I have to find a solution to try to win games. If we gave up at Anfield and are not consistent, you go home with a terrible result. The team was there all the time."

While City remain without the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb and Rodri, the good news for Guardiola is no fresh injuries have been reported after the Liverpool game.

Though Stefan Ortega conceded a penalty at Anfield, he may have done enough to retain his place in between the posts ahead of usual No1 Ederson, who made costly errors in the 3-3 draw with Feyenoord. Kyle Walker has struggled defensively this season so could be taken out of the firing line with Rico Lewis starting at right-back.

Kevin De Bruyne could start to add much needed creativity centrally, while Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku could also come in after substitute appearances against Liverpool, which may see Phil Foden and Matheus Nunes make way.

Doubt: Stones

Injured: Rodri, Bobb, Kovacic

Venue: Etihad Stadium

Time and date: 7:30pm GMT on Wednesday December 4, 2024

TV channel and live stream: Amazon Prime Video