Manchester City face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, knowing that a win will take them above their opponents into third place.
Both teams come off the back of FA Cup Round of 16 victories, with City beating Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad and Forest edging past Ipswich Town on penalties.
Here are five things to look out for in this important battle for top four clash:
Grealish potentially starting on the wing
Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
He’s been in the news this week, and once again, it’s not for the most flattering of reasons.
Jack Grealish was spotted both in pubs in East Manchester and outside a club in Newcastle on Sunday night, and the unsteady nature of his walk suggested that he’d had quite a bit to drink.
I personally have no issue with this; it was his day off, he played well the day before and at the end of the day, he’s a human being that’s delivered a lot for the club and is entitled to let his hair down a bit every now and then, but I can see why a few fans are frustrated that he’s not delivering consistently.
City’s number ten was excellent in the reverse fixture in December, and I think there’s a chance that he’ll start on the left hand side to offer more control and limit the number of transitions Forest are able to have.
Jeremy Doku has played well recently, but he’s not the go to man for if you need someone to hold onto the ball and slow things down a bit.
Grealish is intelligent and does that perfectly, as well as riling up his opponents and creating space for others, and I expect him to do well if he plays there against Nuno Espirito Santos’ side.
Khusanov and Dias vs Wood
Tottenham Hotspur FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Chris Wood has been one of the best players in the league this season, with just Mohammed Salah, Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak having scored more goals than him so far this campaign.
But in Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov, he might just be up against the heart of City’s defence for the next few seasons.
Dias has the physicality and height to match Wood, whilst Khusanov’s pace and aggression will make up for the New Zealand international’s aerial and physical advantage.
It’ll be an entertaining - and potentially match deciding - duel between three of the most important players on the pitch for their respective teams.
Who starts in attack with Haaland?
Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Haaland has performed well this season, becoming the second player to hit 20 goals in his first three seasons in the Premier League after Ruud van Nistelrooy.
He has the attack built around him, but he’ll also have two, three or possibly even four other attackers around him.
Like I said above, I suspect Grealish could be one of them, with Omar Marmoush, Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, James McAtee and potentially the soon to be fit again Oscar Bobb and the recently signed Claudio Echeverri the other options.
Whilst I’d like to see Grealish occupy one of them, I think it’ll be Savinho on the right, Foden as the number ten and Marmoush off the left with Doku or Grealish used as a super sub depending on what is needed in the game.
Gvardiol up against Elanga
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest - Premier League Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
At the other end of the pitch, Josko Gvardiol will be needed to keep Anthony Elanga quiet on Forest’s right hand side.
Since leaving Manchester United in 2023, Elanga has seen his career flourish and is now one of the best wingers in the league, offering pace and trickery as well as much improved end product.
But in Josko Gvardiol, he’s up against one of the best defenders in the division, and he won’t have as much joy as usual in what’ll be an enticing battle.
City’s number 24 has more or less been an ever present this season, and other than a poor month or two at the end of 2024, he has been very good all season and is up there with Haaland to be in contention for the Etihad Player of the Season.
The end of City’s “death sequence”
Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Yes, “death sequence” is the term used by Dias to describe City’s run of one win in 13 matches earlier this season and his own personal struggles with fitness, but it could also describe City’s run of fixtures over the last six weeks.
Since playing Ipswich at the end of January, City have faced PSG, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid twice, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool amongst other games in the FA Cup.
And in the context of this season, they’ve not been too bad. They’re out of Europe but still in the FA Cup and in a very strong position to finish in the top four, and with the chance to rebuild again in the summer.
They started off in January with Reis, Khusanov, Nico and Marmoush, and will surely make new additions in the summer at right back and central midfield, as well as replacing any players that may leave.
It’s nearly the end of the season, and there are brighter days ahead for Pep Guardiola’s side.