On December 27, in the 18th round of the Premier League, Manchester City faced Nottingham Forest away. Thanks to outstanding performances from Reinders and Cherki, City claimed a 2-1 victory, marking their 8th consecutive win across all competitions and 6th consecutive Premier League victory, keeping pressure on Arsenal.
City lined up in a 4-3-2-1 formation with Haaland as the lone striker and Foden and Cherki supporting from the midfield. Rodri was on the bench. The first half saw City dominate possession but struggle to break down Forest’s low defensive block, registering six shots with none on target in the first 40 minutes, ending 0-0 at halftime.
In the 48th minute, City broke the deadlock: Gvardiol threaded a pass forward, Cherki delivered a perfect through ball, and Reinders finished with a left-footed shot, 1-0! Reinders scored in consecutive Premier League matches, giving City the lead. Forest equalized in the 54th minute through Hutchinson, 1-1.
The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute: from a corner, Gvardiol’s header found Cherki, who volleyed a low right-foot shot into the net, 2-1! During five minutes of added time, City continued to press, finally sealing the win and ending 2025 on a high note.
Cherki has contributed 2 goals and 7 assists this season, proving worth far beyond his €36M transfer fee. City’s victory extends their Premier League winning streak and sets a powerful tone for the new year.
