Ruben Dias should be back in Manchester City’s back four at the City Ground on Saturday, and Jeremy Doku has done enough off the bench in Leipzig to earn a start against Nottingham Forest.
Enzo Maresca made four changes for Wednesday’s 3-2 win at RB Leipzig, and the result bought him a little breathing space. It was Manchester City‘s first win in four games, but the two straight Premier League defeats before it, at Aston Villa and at home to Brighton, are what make this weekend’s trip to Nottingham so important.
City are second, three points behind Arsenal, and kick off at 5.30pm (UK) on Saturday 7 November against Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest. Antoine Semenyo is still out with the knee injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until December, but otherwise Maresca has a full squad to pick from.
Man City predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest
Man City predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Fernandez; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Maresca has rotated heavily since the summer and there is no reason to think he stops now. He spoke before Leipzig about thinking of 65 games across the season, and with an international break straight after this one, Saturday is the last push before the players scatter.
Who plays at the back?
Gianluigi Donnarumma: the manager’s man
Another near-post goal in Leipzig, where Ridle Baku beat him from a tight angle, means the noise around Donnarumma will not go away. Maresca has made it clear he is not treating the errors as a concern, so Geronimo Rulli waits on the bench again.
Matheus Nunes: keeps the right-back spot
Nunes was wild at times defensively, but his link-up with Foden down the right was one of the better things City did in Germany. Rico Lewis is the alternative if Maresca wants more control.
Ruben Dias: straight back in
Wednesday was the first time this season Ruben Dias had started on the bench in the Premier League or Champions League. That looked like a one-off rest rather than a demotion. He came on with ten minutes left to see the game out, and we expect him to return as captain.
Marc Guehi: earned another go
Guehi was solid on his return, carrying the ball forward and winning fouls to gain ground. Abdukodir Khusanov did fine too, a rash challenge in the box aside, but Dias coming back means one of them drops out, and Guehi has the stronger case.
Nico O’Reilly: ahead of Gvardiol
O’Reilly’s run and cross created the opening goal, which Castello Lukeba turned into his own net. He needed to do better for Leipzig’s first equaliser, but he offers more going forward than Josko Gvardiol on the left.
Can the midfield finally settle?
Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez: the partnership stays
This is the area that worries us most. City’s midfield again did not really work in Leipzig, and Anderson missed a big chance at 2-2 before his run set up the winner. Fernandez headed in City’s second. Ayyoub Bouaddi started against Brighton as a third midfielder and Mateo Kovacic is fit, but a two of Anderson and Fernandez with Cherki ahead of them gives City the most control.
Where do Cherki, Foden and Doku fit?
Phil Foden: stays on the right
Foden had one effort that went just wide and played a part in the Fernandez goal. It was not his best night, but he and Nunes worked well together, and he has more to give in the final third than Iliman Ndiaye.
Rayan Cherki: keeps the No.10 role
Cherki contributed more than most in Leipzig, even if his final ball could have been better. Leaving him out now, after he looked sharper than almost everyone around him, would make little sense.
Jeremy Doku: in for Ndiaye
Jeremy Doku came on for Foden after 64 minutes and took on his full-back every time he got the ball, which is exactly what tired legs at the City Ground will hate. Ndiaye crossed for the Fernandez goal but drifted in and out, so this feels like a straight swap.
Erling Haaland: the only striker
With Semenyo out, there is no debate. Erling Haaland had just three touches in the first half in Leipzig but still scored the winner, his 14th goal of the season, and he wants City to step up when they are in front instead of sitting on a lead.
Bench and doubts
Khusanov, Gvardiol, Lewis, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Vitor Reis give Maresca cover at the back, with Kovacic, Bouaddi, Ndiaye and Allan Elias the other options in midfield and attack. If Maresca wants an extra midfielder away from home, Bouaddi for Cherki is the most likely change.
Verdict: tighten up or rely on Haaland again
City have conceded 14 goals in their last seven games and have not kept a clean sheet since winning at Anfield last month. As we said after the 2-3 win in Leipzig, attack has been City’s best defence. Dias back in charge of the line is the biggest single change Maresca can make, and we expect him to make it.
Man City predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Fernandez; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
