Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season by beating Nottingham Forest at the Etihad, but they survived a scare in the second half.
You will have to go back a long way to find the last time Pep Guardiola picked a Manchester City team lacking the ingredient he usually treasures above all others: control. So perhaps it was fitting that by the end everyone inside the Etihad had chucked the shackles away and embraced the chaos.
Guardiola likes to have a forward who takes their time on the ball, slows the game down and lets the team get into the correct set-up. Doku, Foden, Alvarez and Haaland would rather go for the jugular and they were showing that chaos can sometimes be more fun. It was a warning sign but one Forest struggled to heed. City were circulating the ball with ease and Foden's narrow position was giving Kyle Walker a match-up he fancied against Nuno Tavares. When Doku moved the ball from the left into Rodri, the Spaniard immediately sent a perfect pass over the head of Tavares onto the foot of Walker, who cushioned a ball back to Foden to lash home.
The biggest surprise of the first half was that Alvarez wasn't on the scoresheet. Twice he forced Turner into saves and when he combined brilliantly with the direct Doku, it was a desperate block from Willy Boly that denied him a goal. What looked like a routine afternoon was suddenly turning into a raucous one. Kalvin Phillips and Nathan Ake came on to tighten things up, but Forest were growing in confidence and City couldn't keep the ball. When Ederson put his forehead into Taiwo Awoniyi's it was a sign that collective heads had been lost inside the Etihad.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Man City: Guardiola confirms Grealish 'maybe can play' vs Forest as Silva injury blow is revealedBernardo Silva will not be fit to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday afternoon.
Read more »
Forest told perfect Man City plan to disrupt Pep Guardiola tacticsNottinghamshireLive takes a deep dive into how Nottingham Forest can get a result at Manchester City on Saturday
Read more »
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest team newsPreview followed by live coverage of Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.
Read more »
Harry Redknapp makes bold Nottingham Forest prediction ahead of Manchester CityLatest Nottingham Forest news as Harry Redknapp makes his prediction for the upcoming Premier League game against Manchester City
Read more »
Pundits all agree on Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest predictionManchester City welcome Nottingham Forest to the Etihad Stadium this afternoon
Read more »
Full Nottingham Forest squad available to Steve Cooper for Manchester City clashLatest Nottingham Forest news as Steve Cooper has a strong Reds squad available to face Manchester City in the Premier League
Read more »