Nottingham Forest face a crucial relegation battle at the City Ground in the English Premier League. They currently hold a slender advantage above the relegation zone, compounded by a three-match losing streak and a significant injury crisis. Key players like Willy Boly and Sangaré are unavailable due to the Africa Cup of Nations, while five other players are also sidelined. This forces them to adopt a depleted 5-4-1 formation, focusing on a defensive approach and relying on Gibbs-White's counter-attacking prowess. Despite their psychological advantage of a 1-0 home victory over Manchester City last season, Nottingham Forest confronts a formidable opponent. Manchester City arrives on a seven-match winning streak, and the home side's defensive vulnerabilities could be exploited. Nottingham Forest manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, must balance 'relegation resilience' with addressing defensive weaknesses. While a compact defence can limit Manchester City's passing, the pressure on the rotated backline is immense, offering minimal room for error against Erling Haaland. Manchester City can target the gaps in Nottingham Forest's defense through crosses and through balls, potentially achieving a comfortable victory if they score early. Historical data reveals Manchester City's strong record, with eight wins, one draw, and one loss in their last ten meetings. They also secured a 3-0 victory in their earlier encounter this season. Overall, an away win for the 'Citizens' appears highly probable. Nottingham Forest might find opportunities from set pieces, but containing Manchester City's overall dominance seems challenging.