Man City player ratings vs Nottingham Forest: Ederson howler proves costly as Erling Haaland hardly has a kick in dismal defeat that could have HUGE implications on Champions League qualification hopes

Manchester City lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest, and the defeat could have serious consequences for their Champions League hopes. The loss was partly due to a mistake by goalkeeper Ederson, who allowed Callum Hudson-Odoi’s shot to slip past him in the 83rd minute. Earlier, Ederson had made a great save to deny Hudson-Odoi, but the goalkeeper’s error cost his team the game. City struggled to break down Forest, and star player Erling Haaland had a quiet match with no real chances. The loss was City’s ninth of the season, a concerning number compared to their three defeats last year.

Ederson, rated 4/10, was at fault for the goal after a poor effort at his near post, which overshadowed his earlier save. Matheus Nunes had a disappointing performance at right-back, getting a 5/10, as his display highlighted the need for City to find a new right-back in the summer. Ruben Dias, with a rating of 6/10, did well to limit Forest’s aerial threat but could not prevent the goal. Abdukodir Khusanov, also rated 6/10, performed well, especially against Chris Wood. Josko Gvardiol, rated 5/10, was good going forward but was caught out by Hudson-Odoi at the wrong moment.

In midfield, Nico Gonzalez received a 4/10 for his clumsy performance, missing several passes and failing to make an impact. Phil Foden, rated 5/10, tried to control the game but was frustrated with his long-range passing. Bernardo Silva, rated 6/10, worked hard but could not find a way through Forest’s defense.

Upfront, Jeremy Doku, rated 6/10, was City’s most lively attacker but struggled to break down Forest’s defense. Haaland, with a 4/10, had an early chance but otherwise had a quiet game with no impact. Savinho, rated 5/10, faded after a few promising moments and was substituted for Omar Marmoush in the second half.

The substitutes did not change the game much. Rico Lewis, rated 5/10, offered more security than Nunes but had little influence. Mateo Kovacic, rated 6/10, almost scored with a powerful shot. Omar Marmoush, rated 5/10, struggled to find space. Kevin De Bruyne, rated 5/10, came on late but did not make a significant difference, with his only notable moment being a free-kick straight at the Forest goalkeeper.

Manager Pep Guardiola, rated 4/10, failed to find a solution to Forest’s solid defense, and the team’s ninth league loss shows that Manchester City is facing serious challenges. After the defeat, City is left to hope for better results in upcoming matches, including their next game against Brighton. Meanwhile, Forest’s win solidified their grip on third place, and they moved five points clear of Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.