Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Manchester City - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - December 27, 2025 Manchester City's Rayan Cherki celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Chris Radburn
NOTTINGHAM, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 to move provisionally to the top of the Premier League table after Rayan Cherki grabbed a goal and assist away at The City Ground on Saturday.
The French midfielder first threaded the pass for City's opener before striking an 83rd-minute winner from a set-piece to secure their eighth straight victory across all competitions.
The result moved City to 40 points, one ahead of Arsenal who face Brighton & Hove Albion later on Saturday. Forest remain in 17th place, nervously looking over their shoulder at a five-point gap between them and the relegation zone.
"When the games come we need just one thing: to win. We take the points because the championship is so long and so hard, so today is a big win," Cherki told TNT Sports.
"It's good for the team because the game was not simple."
City dominated possession in a goalless first half but struggled to break down Forest's compact defensive shape, with striker Erling Haaland largely isolated up front.
Forest's best chance fell to Morgan Gibbs-White, who failed to convert Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross from behind the defence early in the game.
CHERKI AND REIJNDERS FIND CITY BREAKTHROUGH
The breakthrough came within three minutes of the restart when Cherki slipped the ball through for Tijjani Reijnders and the Dutchman fired home from an angle to make it 1-0.
But City's lead lasted only six minutes as Forest launched a swift counter-attack that ended with Igor Jesus crossing for Omari Hutchinson, who took his shot first-time and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma to score his first goal for the club.
Forest sensed victory but squandered chances when Jesus and Nicolo Savona both shot over, while at the other end Phil Foden's effort was well saved by goalkeeper John Victor.
City's sustained pressure finally paid off when Josko Gvardiol headed down a corner kick for Cherki, who took it on the half-volley and sent a low drive from the edge of the box into the back of the net to restore their lead.
Forest's loss also extended Sean Dyche's winless record against Pep Guardiola to 17 Premier League games, the longest winless streak for a manager against another in the league.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Pritha Sarkar and Tomasz Janowski)
