Overview
- Kick-off is 12:30pm GMT on Saturday, 27 December, at the City Ground, with live coverage on TNT Sports 1 and streaming via discovery+.
- Manchester City enter on seven straight wins (five in the league) and could move top before Arsenal play, with Erling Haaland one shy of 20 goals this season.
- Pep Guardiola is without Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush at AFCON, with Rodri, Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic sidelined and Oscar Bobb still uncertain for a return.
- John Stones is pushing to be involved after a thigh issue, though reports suggest wholesale changes are unlikely as Guardiola leans on continuity.
- Forest sit near the drop zone under Sean Dyche but point to strong recent home form, including a 3-0 win over Spurs, as they weigh changes after the Fulham loss and cope with absences including Ibrahim Sangaré and Willy Boly.