In the early kick-off of the Premier League’s version of Boxing Day, Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City saw free-flowing football, defensive brilliance, great goalkeeper saves and much more.
However, with Forest aiming to steer themselves further away from the relegation zone and City aiming to get back to the top of the Premier League table, even if it is temporary, the encounter was already a one to watch before a ball was kicked.
Omari Hutchinson may have played a vital part for Forest in levelling the game for the hosts, but City midfield duo, Rayan Cherki and Tijani Reijnders, stole the limelight from the Reds winger.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City 1-2: Omari Hutchinson Off The Mark For Forest But City’s Midfielders Take The Limelight As All of Forest’s Good Work Gets Undone
Ahead of the Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City clash, City needed a win to leapfrog Arsenal into top spot. A victory for Nottingham Forest would see them move up to 16th in the Premier League table, further extending their distance from the drop zone to eight points.
The fans inside the City Ground weren’t really treated to attacking excellence in the first half as the cagey affair between the two sides saw them muster up eight shots in total between them, with none of them going on target.
In the second half, the game opened up, and the attacking output came to the forefront as both sides went blow for blow. However, it was the Cityzens who held the greater attacking output and showed why they are one of the best teams in the world.
Three minutes into the second half, the ever-brilliant Rayan Cherki produced a moment of brilliance as he found Tijani Reijnders, who slotted the ball past John Victor in the Forest goal to give City the lead.
Going a goal down only rejuvenated the hosts, as six minutes later, they equalised with great play from Morgan Gibbs-White and a terrific finish from Omari Hutchinson.
The Forest skipper got the ball and drove forward before slipping a great ball into the feet of Igor Jesus, with the forward crossing the ball into the box.
Hutchinson, who was yet to score in Forest colours, met the ball and fired it hard and low past a scrambling Gianluigi Donnarumma.
With the Forest winger off the mark, the Reds have a rejuvenated player who has a great first touch, pace and skill to beat any defender as he looked to be playing with freedom and a sense of relief once more.
Unfortunately for Forest, Cherki, who has oozed with class since his switch to the Premier League from Ligue 1 in the summer, was on the scoresheet as he fired the ball through the legs of Gibbs-White and into the bottom corner to hand City a 2-1 win and put them temporarily at the top of the Premier League table.
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Omari Hutchinson: A Winger Finally Reborn
Since signing from Ipswich Town in the summer transfer window for £37.5 million, Omari Hutchinson has shown glimpses of brilliance in a Forest shirt, with his assists against Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers being his only goal contributions so far in the Premier League for the Reds.
However, the winger has been in and out of the side with the manager who signed him, Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked after only three league games.
For Ange Postecoglou, he only featured three times as the exciting England under-21s winger looked to have been slightly frozen out as he was omitted from Nottingham Forest’s Europa League squad.
Another managerial change was imminent as Sean Dyche took over from Postecoglou, which was the change needed for Hutchinson, as he’s slowly regained his place in the team and is playing with more freedom.
Playing nine times since Dyche came in, the 22-year-old has been a breath of fresh air on the wing, adding pace and skill to an already quality front line for Forest.
His goal in the Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City game just showcased his ability in the finishing department. He didn’t rush his effort, put his foot through it and smashed it in.
His performance was just a glimpse of what sort of player Forest has on their hands, one that can easily turn a game on its head and one that is a real handful for any Premier League defenders.
Hutchinson now has to continue his progression and keep on performing consistently as he looks to add more goal contributions to his arsenal and slowly creep into the senior England National Team conversation.
Cherki x Reijnders Show
The midfield duo have been a complete revelation in the Premier League after signing in the summer.
Cherki has been a constant menace at the top end of the pitch, always supplying Haaland and chipping in with a goal or two.
Reijnders, on the other hand, has been going about his business quietly in the background as Cherki runs the show with Haaland.
The 27-year-old started his Premier League career in some fashion as he grabbed a goal and an assist in his first start in the league for the Citizens, and from that point onwards, he has been dropping consistent performances week in week out.
The duo combined for the City opener, and then Cherki scored the winner as Pep Guardiola’s men temporarily went top of the Premier League table.
Even though Guardiola already had a star-studded side to pick from, the arrival of Cherki and Reijnders has been crucial for the eight-time Premier League champions.
In Reijnders, they have a box-to-box midfielder who consistently puts in the kilometres, plays some very neat passes and escapes from danger with ease.
With Cherki, they have a direct Kevin de Bruyne replacement as he’s slotted perfectly into the number 10 role, continuously supplies his teammates with assists and is the current assist leader in the Premier League.
Another City victory just puts more and more pressure on leaders Arsenal, as Pep Guardiola’s side continue to string wins together in search of yet another Premier League trophy.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Paul Marriott
Recording Date: 27.12.2025
