Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man City – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Pep Guardiola’s side need a win to close the gap to league leaders Arsenal

I’m hoping that was a mistimed cross and not a shot from Josko Gvardiol…

The Manchester City full-back plants one high and wide of the Nottingham Forest net. It certainly didn’t look like a shot.

Ederson is down after a collision with Willy Boly. It was a big hit when they both clashed.

After a while receiving treatment though, Ederson is ok to continue, which is a relief for Pep Guardiola.

Nottingham Forest are not scared to have a go at Manchester City.

Neco Williams is once again the man on the end of a flowing move and he forces Ederson into a strong save from a tight angle.

Every time Forest move forward, the City Ground roars and it is some noise.

Manchester City nearly make Nottingham Forest pay for losing the ball at the back.

Chris Wood panics as he receives the ball and gives it away before Jeremy Doku pounces and firs a low drive just wide.

That would have been a poor goal to concede.

I think it just found its voice again!

Ola Aina does very well on the left-hand side and has the Manchester City defence backtracking as he runs at them.

He wins a foul as Jeremy Doku leaves one on him, but the resulting free-kick dips just over the bar from the boot of Morgan Gibbs-White.

Forest just reminding City there that they can cause them problems.

Kevin De Bruyne forces Matz Sels into a brilliant low save with a deflected strike.

It all started with Rodri winning the ball high up the pitch off Morgan Gibbs-White. He is the very best at it.

The City Ground is very flat now as City have taken control of this game.

The home side’s fast-paced start has now been halted by the Champions.

Man City have got a hold of the ball and taken the sting out of the games, as they always do.

I’m sure the chances are about to follow.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at the City Ground:

Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said before this game that nobody will blame external factors if his team go down.

Nice words but that’s exactly what Forest have been doing for as long as I can remember. The fact is that a couple of wins would get Forest out of this mess but under Nuno, they have only managed two this calendar year.

Nearly the perfect start by Nottingham Forest.

Neco Williams gets on the end of a brilliant cross but he can’t sort his feet out to turn the ball home.

What a start that would have been!

Right, we are now we are underway at the City Ground.

Can Nottingham Forest mount a shock, or will Man City’s usual calmness get the job done?

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at the City Ground:

So the gauntlet is thrown down by Arsenal but it’s unlikely City will be fazed. The fact is that Pep Guardiola’s tea, need to beat Forest, Wolves, Fulham, Spurs, and West Ham in order to be champions for the fourth consecutive year. I will be very surprised if they don’t do it.

Nottingham Forest must agree with my dislike for the Premier League anthem. It just doesn’t sound very good does it (I’m certain that’s why they are booing).

We are now just a matter of moments from kick-off, anticipation is now at its peak!

Right, there is a late substitution!

Ryan Walker, who has done a sterling job, has now had to dash, and I Harry Bamforth will be leading the coverage.

This match now feels more pressurised than before after Arsenal’s huge win at Spurs.

The teams are now coming out at the City Ground to a very noisy reception.

There is something telling about the importance of Phil Foden to this Manchester City side. The Englishman has been the club’s best player this season but is a surprise omission from today’s matchday squad.

Foden has starred with 24 goals in all competitions but has been ruled out of today’s clash through illness.

Can City cope without him?

Anthony Elanga is probably better known by Premier League fans for Nottingham Forest after becoming a regular starter at the club this season, but the former Manchester United man will want to prove a point against his boyhood team’s rivals.

Coincidentally, Elanga was scouted by City as a child but opted to join the red half of Manchester and later went on to score four goals in 55 appearances for the Old Trafford club.

He’s just one of Forest’s dangermen and City will be wary of his pace on the counter-attack.

Victory for Arsenal moves the Gunners four points clear at the top of the table and the need for City to get three points today has just gone up tenfold.

Arsenal are showing no signs of the slip-up that practically gift-wrapped City the title last season and anything but three points for today’s visitors at the City Ground would spell disaster.

Over to you Pep Guardiola.

The full-time whistle has just blown in London and Arsenal have held on to seal a 3-2 derby victory over Tottenham.

Mikel Arteta’s side are now four points clear at the top of the table, with City aiming to bring the gap down to one here at the City Ground.

You can follow post-match reaction from Arsenal’s victory below.

Today isn’t just a huge match in terms of the Premier League title race, but it’s also Pep Guardiola’s 300th game in charge of Manchester City.

The Spaniard moved to Manchester in 2016 and since then has delivered five Premier League titles, the club’s first Champions League and multiple domestic honours in the FA and League Cups.

Will he be lifting another top-flight crown in a few weeks time?

It’s a strong City team that start today’s clash – as if there is any such thing as a weak one – but the surprise omission from the line-up is Erling Haaland.

Julian Alvarez has been given the nod over the Norwegian, but you expect to see Haaland at some point!

Here’s how Forest shape up today as they welcome the champions to the City Ground. Whether City will be calling themselves that next season is an altogether different subject.

Forest XI: Sels, Williams, Gibbs-White (C), Wood, Hudson-Odoi, Niakhate, Elanga, Danilo, Boly, Murillo, Aina.

Man City players have just departed the bus at the City Ground after making the relatively short trip from the north west.

There’s determined faces on the faces of the reigning Premier League champions and this time of the season is when Pep Guardiola’s side usually produce their best performances.

We’ll discuss the importance of what today means for Man City shortly, but for today’s hosts this could be the day they take a massive step towards securing their Premier League status for another season.

Forest are currently just one above Luton who occupy the final place in the drop zone and a win today would move them out of touching distance regardless of if the Hatters pick up a win in their final fixtures.

A draw would somewhat help their cause but a win is the real necessity.

It’s currently half-time in the ongoing Premier League derby clash between Tottenham and Arsenal with Mikel Arteta’s title-chasers leading 3-0 at the home of their rivals.

You can follow every moment of second-half action from that match below.

Hello and thanks for joining us for the final Premier League clash of the weekend as Manchester City make the short trip to the City Ground where Nottingham Forest await.

Three points are a necessity for both teams for entirely different reasons as City look to close in on a fourth consecutive Premier League title and Forest aim to increase the distance between them and the drop zone.

Kick off is at 4.30pm and we have plenty to cover before then!