Manchester City continue their homestand for EPL Matchweek 5 as they host Nottingham Forest for mid-week action on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
The Sky Blues suffered a scare against Crystal Palace, going down 2-0 by halftime. However, they were able to rally to win the match 4-2 on Erling Haaland’s first Premier League hat trick.
After back-to-back matches with points, Nottingham Forest suffered their second loss of the season, a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham. The Reds controlled a majority of the possession but were only able to get one shot on target.
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These two teams hadn’t played each other since 2009 when Nottingham Forest defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the FA Cup. With The Reds back in the Premier League for the first time since the 1998-99 season, these two haven’t met in the top division of football in quite some time.
Will Manchester City continue their winning streak at the Etihad Stadium? Or can Nottingham Forest take down one of the top teams in the EPL?
Let’s take a look at current betting odds and get some best bets and predictions for this match taking place on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
Gio Annatelli’s EPL betting record: 8-10, +1.26 units
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest Odds
- 3-Way Handicap: Manchester City (-1200) | Draw (+1150) | Nottingham Forest (+3300)
- Draw No Bet: Manchester City (-50000) | Nottingham Forest (+2500)
- Over/Under Goals: Over 3.5 (-165) | Under 3.5 (+115)
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest odds are current as of Monday, Aug. 29, from BetMGM Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted.
Manchester City have won both of their home matches this season, as they sit in second place of the Premier League standings with 10 points and a goal differential of eight.
In their first season back in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest are above relegation in 14th place with four points.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest Betting Tips
Manchester City need to make a statement early
The match against Crystal Palace was the second time Man City fell behind early this season and had to mount a comeback. They can get away with that against weaker teams, but they shouldn’t make it a habit.
Even with a 1-1-2 record, Nottingham Forest have played teams tough in the early stretch of the Premier League. While this should be an easy win for the Sky Blues, it’s never a given, as seen with Leeds United beating Chelsea 3-0.
A full 90 minutes of solid play is what Manchester City need. The defending champions need to remind the rest of the Premier League how dominant they are, and a strong start against the Reds will prove that.
Nottingham Forest have to focus on defense
Man City and Liverpool sit atop the Premier League with 13 goals, and nine of Liverpool’s goals came against Bournemouth. So it’s fair to say that the Sky Blues have the best attack in the EPL.
In every match this season, Manchester City have dominated the possession time. They held Palace to two shots on target, and both goals came off corner kicks.
Forest have to play on their back heels and essentially park the bus, hoping for a draw, walking out of the Etihad Stadium with a point. The scoring chances will come few and far between, so defense should be the main focus.
The scoring will be one-sided
Manchester City lead the league in scoring and Nottingham Forest are towards the bottom of the EPL in scoring with just two goals in four matches, so the Sky Blues will do all the heavy lifting.
City have one of the best attacks in the league, with Haaland, İlkay Gündoğan, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden all having goals this season. Haaland has been a great addition to the squad, as he leads the Premier League with six goals on the year.
So far this season, the Sky Blues have only conceded five goals, with one of them being an own goal. Ederson has two clean sheets to his name in four matches, and the defense has kept the scoring chances to a minimum.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest Prediction
Manchester City 4-0 Nottingham Forest
In their last match, Manchester City controlled 74% of the possessions and held Palace to two shots, both on target. They’ll have similar results against Nottingham Forest.
Even though they had a strong showing against Tottenham, Man City are a much better team and will apply the pressure at home.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest Best Bets
➕ Over 3.5 Goals (-165) at BetMGM Sportsbook
WAGER: 2 Units
Though Nottingham Forest have conceded five goals this season, including just two to the Spurs, they haven’t faced an attack like Manchester City.
The Sky Blues have hit Over 3.5 goals in three matches this season and have done it themselves twice. With the home-field advantage on their side, the energy will be with them in this match, leading to goals.
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➕ Two or More Goals Scored in Both Halves (+145) at BetMGM
WAGER: 1 Unit
This outcome has happened in back-to-back matches for Manchester City, and that trend will continue against Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City must play a full match from start to finish, which means pouring on the attack. They’ve had plenty of chances this season and as one of the top teams in the EPL, they’ll continue to have those looks.
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➕ Erling Haaland: Two or More Goals (+135) at BetMGM
WAGER: 0.5 Units
Haaland has proven himself a top goalscorer for Manchester City right away, as he leads the Premier League with six goals. He has scored multiple goals in two matches this season, including coming off a hat trick against Crystal Palace.
It’s safe to assume Haaland is the No. 1 option in the Sky Blues attack with how much they look to get him involved in the attack. In addition, his size and speed make him a mismatch for opposing back lines.
Scoring multiple goals in a match is nothing new for Haaland, as he’s done so 50 times throughout his career in all competitions. Nottingham Forest allowed Harry Kane to score two goals, so Haaland should be able to do the same.
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