Nottingham Forest have shown signs of improvement recently, winning six of their last nine matches across all competitions, including a notable 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur two weeks ago, demonstrating strong attacking capabilities. However, their consistency is a concern, as they lost 1-0 away to Fulham in their last match, failing to build on their winning streak, and currently hold only a narrow lead above the relegation zone, increasing the pressure to avoid demotion. Manchester City are also affected by the African Cup of Nations and injuries. Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are away on international duty; Jeremy Doku, John Stones, and Oscar Bobb are confirmed absentees; Rodri's participation is uncertain as he recovers; and Mateo Kovacic is expected to be out for three months due to a heel injury, impacting their midfield depth. Manchester City may adopt a possession-based strategy, leveraging their midfield's technical superiority to control the tempo, guiding attacks through Kevin De Bruyne's precise passes. Erling Haaland will likely utilise his physical advantage against the opposing defence, and if they take an early lead, they may focus on a defensive approach with counter-attacks. Match Prediction: Manchester City win.