Nottingham Forest vs Man City LIVE: Premier League confirmed line-ups as Phil Foden starts crucial clash

Jack Grealish was back in the headlines last night after being spotted buying drinks on a night out last weekend – although the Manchester City star was not breaking any rules having been given the day off.

Pep Guardiola was still asked about the England international in his pre-match press conference and the manager said he is more concerned with what he does on the pitch. Grealish is on the bench today.

“A day off is a day off, there is no training. They have private lives to do whatever they want. I’m not going to control what they do in their private life,” Guardiola said.

“I judge what I see on the pitch, the training sessions and the performances in the game. That’s where I judge the players.

“I want Jack at his best, of course, but he’s had setbacks and didn’t play. That was sometimes for the injuries, he could not get the rhythm that you need for being ready every three days.

“Jack played really good the last game and hopefully he can have the consistency.”

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said he wanted his team to get “back to basics” after the 4-3 defeat at Newcastle and was pleased with what he saw in the 0-0 against Arsenal.

He tells TNT Sports: “I think we showed what we are as a team. We were solid and compact. After what happened before, it was important to go back to that.”

Forest finished 58 points behind Manchester City last season but are chasing Champions League football now and come into today’s match one point above Pep Guardiola’s side.

“I like the commitment to improve, to work as a team. To realise how bad we did before and how we want to improve and work now. I’m impressed with the unity and atmosphere.”

Perhaps a slight surprise for Manchester City as Omar Marmoush drops out of the starting line-up. Phil Foden is set to play behind Erling Haaland, with the Egyptian on the bench.

Speaking of, City’s bench is looking very strong, with Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic joining Marmoush to give Guardiola several options to change the game.

While City are down to the bare bones in defence, with Matheus Nunes continuing at right back and Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov continuing their recent partnership.

Man City XI: Ederson, Matheus Luiz, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol,Gonzalez, Silva, Savio, Foden, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Ortega,Marmoush, Kovacic, Grealish, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Vitor Reis,O’Reilly, Lewis.

Nottingham Forest’s last Premier League game was a 0-0 draw with Arsenal and Nuno Espirito Santo names the same team that faced the Gunners at the City Ground.

Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White return to the team that faced Ipswich in the FA Cup. On the wings, Anthony Elange and Callum Hudson-Odoi will hope to have space to hit Manchester City on the counter-attack.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams,Dominguez, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.

Subs: Hennessey, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi, Alex, Jota Silva,Yates, Danilo, Boly.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Dominguez; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Nico, Bernardo; Savinho, Foden, Doku; Haaland

It’s a glorious morning by the Trent. We’ll have all the team news from the City Ground in the next few minutes.

Pep Guardiola insisted he had no issue with Jack Grealish enjoying a night out – but warned he must deliver on the pitch for Manchester City.

Pictures emerged this week of the England international apparently visiting a number of venues in the north east – including a social club where he reportedly bought drinks for the locals – last weekend.

Grealish was not breaking any club rules, with the squad having been given two days off following Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round win over Plymouth.

Yet the stories have led some to question the 29-year-old’s professionalism amid what has been a difficult campaign both for him and the team.

“If you are third in the table after 8-10 fixtures, that’s OK – but if it happens with 11 games left, and still you are third, it is because you have done really, really, really well.

“You cannot be there for many months without doing many good things. So it’s impressive, I would say.

“They defend really well, aggressive, compact and good in the transitions. They are good with the long balls and the four up front are really good. They create many things.”

Currently fourth, Manchester City face a crunch test as they travel to third-placed Nottingham Forest, who have been one of the competition’s surprise packages this term.

Behind them the battle is also tight, with 10th-placed Aston Villa just five points adrift, and Guardiola is realistic about his team’s position.

Pep Guardiola said: “It will not be the end of the world if we’re not going to qualify for the Champions League.

“If it doesn’t happen, it’s because we have not been good enough and the other teams deserve it. After 38 fixtures, it’s fair enough. The result is finished.

“We are in the position that is not ideal, but it’s not too bad. It’s in our hands and we’re going to fight for that.”

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is expected to be out for up to 11 weeks following foot surgery, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The centre-back was forced off at half-time in last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Plymouth and later underwent an operation to repair a fracture.

It is the latest in a series of fitness issues in a frustrating campaign for the Dutchman, with the foot issue having been particularly troublesome for some time.

Guardiola said at a press conference: “Ten weeks, 11 weeks (out), they said to me. When you go for surgery it’s because something wrong happened.

“But the important thing is it is done. He has struggled a lot this season with the problems in his feet. It happens.”