Confirmed Match Officials: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

The Premier League have confirmed the team of match officials to oversee a mammoth contest in the chase for a top-four position in the English top-flight this season.

Manchester City have just two primary targets for the remainder of the ongoing campaign having exited the UEFA Champions League prior to the last-16 for the first time since the 2012/13 season and dropped out of the Premier League title race.

That fall off from Pep Guardiola’s side has largely come as a result of poor results throughout November and December, despite starting the season in strong form and remaining unbeaten until the end of October.

It means that between now and the end of the campaign, in a rare set of circumstances for Guardiola’s all-conquering side, they will very rarely be handed a midweek fixture and as such remain focussed on their weekend activities in the Premier League and FA Cup.

Next up for the reigning Premier League champions is a trip to face Nuno Espirito Santo’s high-flying City Ground outfit away from home, in a match-up that sees third in the Premier League take on Guardiola’s squad in fourth.

And ahead of the meeting between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City this weekend, the Premier League have now announced the list of match officials to oversee proceedings at the City Ground!

Match Referee

Taking on the role of lead on-field match referee will be 39-year-old Manchester-born official, Chris Kavanagh in what will be his 29th contest officiated across all competitions so far this season, and his 18th in the Premier League.

So far in the English top-flight, Kavanagh has handed out 88 yellow cards across his 17 top-flight outings as well as four dismissals – two of which have come via straight red cards. The experienced referee has also awarded three penalties in that time.

As for Kavanagh’s record when taking on matches involving Manchester City, eight of such matches have resulted in a victory for the sky blues, while three have ended in a draw, and the other two culminating in defeat.

Chris Kavanagh is yet to issue a red card in a match involving Manchester City, but has awarded three penalties during the 13 matches involving the club, having also issued 21 yellow cards.

The last outing involving Manchester City that saw Chris Kavanagh in charge as match referee came at Anfield earlier this season, when Pep Guardiola’s side succumbed to a largely straightforward 2-0 defeat to Arne Slot’s runaway league leaders in Liverpool.

Assistant Referees

Accompanying Chris Kavanagh on the pitch at the City Ground for this weekend’s early lunchtime kick-off between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City will be assistant referees Lee Betts and Scott Ledger, the Premier League have confirmed.

Video Assistant Referees

As for the match officials overseeing proceedings from Stockley Park and the VAR Hub, the Premier League have appointed Darren England into the role of Video Assistant Referee, with Akil Howson as the Assistant Video Assistant Referee.

Fourth Official

Standing between Nuno Espirito Santo and Pep Guardiola this weekend will be fourth official Sam Allison, ensuring that matters remain in check between the Nottingham Forest and Manchester City dugouts.