[Man City](/topic/man-city) visit [Nottingham Forest](/topic/nottingham-forest) on return from their Christmas holiday, but Pep Guardiola is not expected to make wholesale changes.
As such, shuffling does not seem likely as he visits Forest, who sit precariously close to the relegation zone after being beaten by Fulham last time out.
He may, however, welcome John Stones back into the side. The England international has been out with a thigh injury for a few weeks and has been tipped to return at the City Ground.
Should he be passed fit, it seems unlikely that he would start in what seems set to be a physical contest.
With so many first-team players out, Guardiola has little incentive to deviate from his winning formula.
Erling Haaland remains in fine form with six goals in his last five, and will remain up top. Behind him, Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden have continued their impressive partnership, and no change is expected.
Elsewhere, options for defensive changes are thin on the ground. Abdukodir Khusanov could come in, but Guardiola will likely stick with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol for this match. Their experience should prove valuable against a direct Forest side.
**Predicted Man City XI (4-3-2-1)**: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Gonzalez, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden; Haaland
**Injured:** Kovacic, Rodri, Doku, Bobb
**Unavailable:** Ait-Nouri, Marmoush
**Time and date:** 12.30pm GMT on Saturday, December 27, 2025
**How to watch:** TNT Sports 1