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Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

The 2023/24 Premier League season is under way and you can follow every game and every goal right here with The Independent.

This year sees Manchester City try to defend their crown and claim a historic fourth title in succession. Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering City, who also won the Champions League and FA Cup last season, will have to see off Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and the rest to claim an unprecedented sixth league title in seven years.

Meanwhile Luton Town are making their first appearance in the Premier League, having risen from non-league in an incredible decade of progress. They followed Championship winners Burnley and second-placed Sheffield United in earning promotion to the top flight.

Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Premier League updates

  • Goal - Foden scores early on (1-0)

  • Goal - Haaland heads in a close-range second (2-0)

  • Red card - Rodri sent-off for violent conduct (2-0)

Manchester City FC 2 - 0 Nottingham Forest FC

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

17:11

Thanks for joining us for live coverage of Manchester City's 2-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium. Goodbye!

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

17:10

With most of their challengers at the top yet to play this weekend, City extend their lead at the Premier League summit to five points as they retain their perfect record to kick off this campaign. They are face Newcastle United in EFL Cup action next, the only competition they failed to win last season. For Forest, whether they stay up will not be dictated by games against the likes of City and Cooper will find some pleasure in how his team did not crumble in the same manner they did in this fixture last season. They host Brentford in their next match on October 1.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

17:06

The full-time whistle blows as City take the points in an occasionally ill-tempered clash at the Etihad Stadium. They run out 2-0 victors, set on their way by Foden's fine finish after just seven minutes after Rodri's superb pass had carved open the Forest defence. Haaland made it 2-0 shortly after, thumping home a header from Nunes' deft cross as the visitors made it to the break just the two goals behind. They were then handed a lifeline back into the game just 27 seconds into the second half, when their hosts were reduced to 10 men with Rodri given his marching orders for grabbing the throat of Gibbs-White. Cooper's side would not be able to take advantage of their numerical advantage, though, and City saw out the remaining minutes with relative ease to secure another win.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

17:00

FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

17:00

Ederson takes the pressure off his defenders as he comes out and claims a cross from the left. City are nearly there.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

17:00

Ederson makes a brilliant save to palm Elanga's full-blooded effort away, before he then makes another decent stop to deny Boly from range.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:56

Yellow Card Gonzalo Ariel Montiel

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:55

Gibbs-White whips a free-kick into the hosts' box, but the ball somehow evades everybody before skimming away harmlessly for a throw-in.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:54

The fourth official puts up his board and indicates there will be seven minutes of additional time at the end of this match. Can Forest set up a grandstand finish?

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:53

There is a brief moment of concern for the hosts as a clearance in their box comes off Elanga and flies goalwards, though thankfully for them, the ball smashes into the side netting.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:49

Substitution Philip Walter Foden Jack Peter Grealish

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:48

Space opens up for Origi to smash goalwards, but a couple of City defenders are there to block the striker's effort away from danger.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:46

Gvardiol required a bit of treatment after the foul on him, though he is now back on his feet and okay to continue.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:44

Origi is booked after his high boot catches Gvardiol as the pair battled for an aerial ball.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:44

With 10 minutes to play, City still hold a two-goal advantage, though they have looked a little nervy since Rodri's red card.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:42

A great chance to kill the game for City goes begging as Ake gets on the end of a diagonal free-kick. The substitute manages to get the ball across to Haaland, but the pass is at an awkward height for the prolific forward and he can only fire over the crossbar. Will the hosts regret that miss come full-time?

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:40

Mangala catches Foden in midfield and receives a yellow card for his troubles.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:38

Cooper is gambling as he brings on two strikers. The first change sees Awoniyi replaced by Wood.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:38

Substitution Temitayo Olufisayo Olaoluwa Aina Divock Okoth Origi

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:36

Rodri's sending off (45 minutes and 27 seconds) was the fastest red card shown from the start of a second half on record in the Premier League (since 2006-07).

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:35

Gvardiol can only nod a cross to the waiting Elanga at the back post, but the substitute's shot is easily saved by Ederson. Forest are getting closer.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:34

Elanga tries to arrow a cross towards the back post for Awoniyi, but the delivery fails to find its desired target and City will have a goal-kick.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:32

If the visitors are to find a way back into this game, they will have to provide more attacking threat having not been able to record a shot on target so far.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:30

After having just 23.4 per cent of the possession in the first half, Cooper's men have had 72.1 per cent of the ball since the break. They are yet to really trouble City though.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:28

Foden flies past Boly like the Forest defender is not even there. He gets all the way into the Forest box, but his attempt to cross for Haaland is blocked behind by Montiel.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:26

Dominguez tries to curl home from range, but he cannot get enough bend on his effort and Ederson watches it fly well wide of his post.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:25

This is just Forest's third visit to the Etihad Stadium to face City – they won an FA Cup tie 3-0 in January 2009, before losing this exact fixture 6-0 in August last season.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:22

A superb long ball from Boly puts Awoniyi in, but he is quickly closed down by Ederson and the Forest striker can only loft high over the crossbar.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:21

Yellow Card Taiwo Micheal Awoniyi

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:20

In another attacking change, Hudson-Odoi comes on for Aurier. Can the former Chelsea man replicate the heroics he produced against Burnley?

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:20

Substitution Julián Álvarez Nathan Benjamin Aké

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:19

Substitution Ibrahim Sangaré Anthony David Junior Elanga

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:19

Aina flies past Walker down the left, forcing Akanji to come and clear behind for a corner. Cooper's men look like they have been revitalised by the red card.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:18

Forest’s first completed pass came after seven minutes and 36 seconds. Prior to City's opener, the visitors had had just six touches.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:15

Doku is the man Guardiola chooses to sacrifice as Phillips comes on to fill the gap created by Rodri's dismissal.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:15

The visitors work a corner short before the ball ends up at the feet of Mangala outside the box, but the midfielder's shot is ballooned high over the crossbar.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:14

City seemed to be in complete control before that incident. How will Forest look to take advantage of their numerical advantage?

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:13

Yellow Card Morgan Anthony Gibbs-White

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:13

RODRI IS OFF!!! The VAR review agrees with the referee's initial decision to send the midfielder off, and he is forced to make his way from the field! That was very naive from such an experience player.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:10

Red Card Rodrigo Hernández Cascante

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

16:09

Cooper's side get us back underway for the second period.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:58

City are imperious at home, last dropping points at the Etihad Stadium on New Year's Eve in 2022, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton. It will be interesting to see whether Cooper looks to take risks in the chance of a surprise come-from-behind result, or whether he will opt to shut up shop and protect his team from the same damaging defeat they suffered here last season.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:55

City are in control as they take a 2-0 lead into the break at the Etihad Stadium thanks to goals from Foden and Haaland. The hosts were ahead after just seven minutes, Rodri's excellent lofted pass unlocking the Forest defence before Walker teed up Foden to lash into the bottom corner. Turner also had no chance as Haaland doubled City's lead after 14 minutes, Foden again playing a big part as he played in Nunes, who lofted a deft cross over for Haaland to nod home. The visitors must have been dreading the rest of the opening 45 minutes, though they did manage to restrict the Citizens to just the two first-half goals and give themselves a slender chance of a comeback after the interval.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:53

HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:52

Forest are yet to have a shot on target in this game.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:49

Sangare is booked for a late challenge on Rodri in midfield.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:48

There will be five minutes of additional time at the end of this first half.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:45

Foden takes the set-piece short to Alvarez, but the substitute Montiel is alert to race out and snuff out the danger by forcing City backwards.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:44

Alavarez's free-kick is blocked by Boly in the wall, though the hosts will have another chance to score a third as Foden heads over to take a corner.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:43

Forest players are left fuming as Aurier is penalised for going through the back of Doku around 30 yards out from their goal. There will be further outrage if Alvarez can find the back of the net with the resulting free-kick.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:41

Tavares does indeed limp off, and Montiel comes on to replace him.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:41

He bravely tried to play on, but Tavares' race finally looks run as he goes down again.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:39

Tavares is going to try and play on, though he does not look to be moving entirely freely. Can City take advantage of that?

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:37

Cooper may be forced into a change here with Tavares down and clutching his groin. He looks in some discomfort.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:35

City are unbeaten in six league games against Forest (four wins, two draws) since a 3-2 home defeat in the second tier in December 1997, and that run looks like it will be extended to seven here.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:33

City nearly have a third as Doku shows quick feet to skip past Aina before finding Alvarez, but the Argentina international's eventual effort is blocked behind for a corner by Boly.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:31

Haaland already has eight Premier League goals this season with another strike in his sixth appearance of 2023-24 versus Forest here. However, his first six Premier League appearances last season saw him score 10, so he is still behind that extraordinary scoring rate.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:28

Space opens up for Alvarez to smash towards goal, but his powerful effort is straight down the throat of Turner and the Forest goalkeeper makes the save.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:25

There were 46 passes in the build-up to Foden's opener, the second most on record (since 2006-07) in a Premier League game after 48 passes in the build-up to Nacer Chadli’s goal for Tottenham against QPR in August 2014.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:23

Tavares is booked for cynically bringing down Doku as City looked to counter.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:23

After a lengthy delay, Gibbs-White's free-kick is not worth the wait as it hits the wall. The ball does deflect behind for a corner, but City deal with that with ease.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:20

Akanji goes in the book for bringing down Awoniyi. Perhaps more pressing, though, is that Forest will have a free-kick in a dangerous position. Who will be trusted to take it?

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:20

Haaland has now scored in his last four games in the Premier League (six goals in total)

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:18

Assist Matheus Luiz Nunes

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:16

Goal Erling Braut Haaland

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:15

Walker gets to the byline before trying to find Haaland with a cross, though Boly is well-placed to divert behind for a corner, which then comes to nothing.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:13

It already looks like it could be a long remainder of this game for Forest, who are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment. Awoniyi is looking pretty isolated up top for the visitors.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:12

City have now scored in their last 36 Premier League home games.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:09

Assist Kyle Andrew Walker

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:08

Goal Philip Walter Foden

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:07

Forest are playing with 10 of their players behind the ball, trying to fill the spaces that City are such experts at exploiting.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:06

Alvarez scored directly from a free-kick against Red Star in midweek, but his powerful effort is beaten away by Turner on this occasion.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:04

Haaland is hauled down by Boly near the edge of the box as Alvarez looked to play him in, and City will have a free-kick in a great shooting position.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

15:02

The hosts kick us off and we are underway in a sunny Manchester!

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:59

The two teams make their way onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium and we are now moments from kick-off.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:59

Steve Cooper makes five alterations from the 1-1 draw with Burnley last time out. Hudson-Odoi scored a brilliant equaliser in that game, but he drops to the bench alongside Elanga as Tavares and Dominguez come in. Boly, Niakhate and Aurier also start ahead of Montiel, Worrall and Scott McKenna, the latter of whom misses out altogether.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:55

Pep Guardiola makes three changes from the 3-1 win over Red Star as Akanji and Gvardiol replace Ake and Gomez in the back four while Doku comes in for the injured Bernardo Silva, who picked up a knock in that game and joins an already busy physio room that includes the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic and John Stones. Guardiola is boosted by the return of Grealish, though, as the winger is fit enough to be named on the bench.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:55

SUBS: Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga, Odisseas Vlachodimos, Divock Origi, Ryan Yates, Joe Worrall, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Gonzalo Montiel, Cheikhou Kouyate.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:47

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (3-5-2): Matt Turner; Willy Boly, Moussa Niakhate, Ola Aina; Serge Aurier, Nicolas Dominguez, Ibrahim Sangare, Orel Mangala, Nuno Tavares; Taiwo Awoniyi, Morgan Gibbs-White.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:43

SUBS: Scott Carson, Rico Lewis, Stefan Ortega, Oscar Bobb, Jack Grealish, Nathan Ake, Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gomez.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:43

MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol; Matheus Nunes, Rodri; Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku; Erling Haaland.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:38

The visitors may have narrowly avoided relegation last season, but they have fared well in the early stages of this one, currently sitting in the top eight of the Premier League having taken seven points from their first five matches. They are right up against it here, though, with the 6-0 hammering they suffered here last campaign sure to be playing on the mind of the Forest squad.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:34

After claiming a historic treble last season, the Citizens have started this term in similarly impressive fashion, taking victories in all five of their Premier League outings while coming from behind to beat Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League in midweek. Another league win here will boost their chances of lifting a sixth title in the last seven campaigns.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:34

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:00

Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

14:30

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.