Nottingham Forest is gearing up for a tough Premier League clash against Manchester City at the City Ground on December 27, 2025. But, a definitive 4-2-3-1 lineup for Forest isn’t confirmed yet. The club is dealing with some big lineup challenges for this game. Important players like Ola Aina, Neco Williams, and Ryan Yates are all out, making things tricky for coach Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou’s Style and Formation Shift
Forest boss Ange Postecoglou only recently took over the reins at the City Ground. He replaced Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked earlier in the season. This switch means a big change in approach for the team. Martin Lipton noted it felt like “reversing the polarity of the planet,” going from Nuno-ball to defense-averse “Ange-ball.” Postecoglou usually prefers a 4-3-3 formation. He’ll want his team playing an attacking style, even against the reigning champions.
Injuries and Suspensions Hit Hard
The Reds have some major holes in their squad for the Man City game. Defender Ola Aina is injured; he’s facing at least three months out with a hamstring problem he picked up on international duty. Forest was even looking at replacing him in their Europa League squad because of it, with Ange Postecoglou confirming, “Ola will pretty much miss all of the first round.” Full-back Neco Williams is also suspended, as is midfielder Ryan Yates.
That’s a lot of important players missing, especially in defense and midfield. The good news? Callum Hudson-Odoi is back and ready to play. His return will be a boost for the attack.
Filling the Gaps: Potential Replacements
With Aina and Williams both out, Forest’s backline will need some adjustments. Oleksandr Zinchenko, who joined on loan from Arsenal, could be an option at full-back. He was listed as a potential replacement for Aina in the Europa League squad, according to Nottingham Post. In central defense, Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo are pretty much guaranteed starters.
The midfield, without Yates, might see Elliot Anderson step up, possibly alongside Ibrahim Sangare or Douglas Luiz. Morgan Gibbs-White is a guaranteed starter in the attacking midfield role, helping to drive the team forward.
Up front, Postecoglou has some choices. The team has a lot of attacking talent, really. Omari Hutchinson, the club’s record signing from Ipswich for £37.5m, could get a chance. Dan Ndoye and Dilane Bakwa are also pushing for spots. Chris Wood, last season’s top scorer, will compete with £26m signing Arnaud Kalimuendo for the central striker role. It seems like Wood might be the safer bet to start, just for his experience. The manager has a “headache” picking the XI, as The Sun reported recently, given all these options.
No Confirmed Lineup, But Speculation Rife
Right now, there’s no official word from Nottingham Forest, the Premier League, or big outlets like BBC Sport or Sky Sports about a projected starting XI. YouTube previews from December 26-27, 2025, also don’t offer much in terms of a confirmed lineup.
This match is a big one, so fans are definitely looking for any hints. Manchester City has their own injury concerns, with Rodri potentially returning but De Bruyne and Stones out, as discussed in fan circles. But that doesn’t change Forest’s immediate problems.
It’s going to be interesting to see how Postecoglou lines his team up. He’s got a tough job, mixing returning players with those who need to step in due to suspensions and injuries. This game against Manchester City will really test the depth and resolve of his squad.
Baishali Karmakar 
Govind Singh 
Ishaan Singh