"I have a feeling this game is going to be a lot closer" - Chrs Sutton makes prediction for Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City

Chris Sutton has backed Manchester City to beat Nottingham Forest on Sunday (April 28) but thinks Pep Guardiola's men won't find it easy.

The Cityzens were excellent as they swept Brighton & Hove Albion aside with a 4-0 away win last night (April 25). Phil Foden was at the double while Kevin De Bruyne and Julian Alvarez were also on target.

The win moved Manchester City to within a point of league leaders Arsenal. They have a game in hand over the Gunners with five games of their league campaign left.

Guardiola takes his City side to the City Ground this weekend to face relegation battlers Forest. Nuno Espirito Santo's men sit 17th in the league, a point above the drop zone with four games remaining.

Sutton reflected on the reigning champions' win against Brighton while predicting their clash with Forest. The Premier League legend suggested it will be more difficult (via BBC Sport):

"When you see City perform like that (vs Brighton), you think who can get near them... but I have a feeling this game is going to be a lot closer for the defending champions."

Forest are embroiled in a war of words with the Premier League, specifically the PGMOL. They were furious with the officiating during a 2-0 loss to Everton that harmed their hopes of Premier League survival.

Sutton sympathized with the Tricky Trees after they were denied three contentious penalties although he questioned their focus:

"What are Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and his players focusing on? If they are going into games thinking about who is the referee or who is on video assistant referee duty then they are taking their eye off the thing that really matters, which is their performance levels on the pitch."

Sutton predicted Manchester City to win but in a close shave:

"On Sunday they (Forest) are playing against a team where they really can't afford to lose their focus. They are capable of giving City a good game but keeping their concentration is the key." Prediction: 1-2.

The Cityzens prevailed in the previous encounter between the two sides at the Etihad. Foden and Erling Haaland netted in a 2-0 win on September 23 but they have had issues at the City Ground. Guardiola's men were held to a 1-1 draw away from home in February 2023 after Chris Wood canceled out Bernardo Silva's opener.

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Erling Haaland could be fit for Manchester City's trip to Forest

Erling Haaland should be back for the Forest trip.

Haaland missed Manchester City's win against Brighton due to an undisclosed fitness issue. The Norweigan superstar also sat out his side's 1-0 win against Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals (April 20).

However, Guardiola hinted that Haaland is closing in on recovering and could do so in time for the Forest encounter. He said after the victory at the Amex (via The Express):

“I prefer to have Erling at my disposal than to have it (the squad without him). I spoke with him, and he says he feels better, I don't know.”

Haaland will be eager to get back to full fitness and help his side retain their title. He's appeared 39 times across competitions, registering 31 goals and six assists. His last appearance was Manchester City's exit from the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid in a 4-2 penalty shootout loss after a 4-4 aggregate draw.