Rayan Cherki delivered a moment of brilliance, scoring a late goal to secure a 2-1 victory for Manchester City against a resilient Nottingham Forest side. The win, Manchester City's eighth in a row in all competitions and sixth straight in the Premier League, propelled them to the top of the league table, pending Arsenal's later match.

The match at the City Ground started with both teams displaying tactical awareness, resulting in a tightly contested first half with few clear-cut chances. Forest's Igor Jesus proved a handful for City's central defenders, Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, keeping them busy throughout the game.

The deadlock was broken shortly after the restart when a clever pass from Cherki found Tijjani Reijnders, who calmly slotted the ball past Forest goalkeeper John Victor. However, the lead was short-lived as Omari Hutchinson equalized for Nottingham Forest just six minutes later, finishing from close range after a cross from Igor Jesus.

As the clock ticked down, with the score level at 1-1, Cherki stepped up to deliver a decisive blow. In the 83rd minute, following a set-piece routine from a Phil Foden corner, Cherki fired a low volley through a crowded penalty area and into the net, sending the travelling City fans into raptures. The goal was Cherki's second in three games and his fifth overall. It also marked his first Premier League goal since the opening day of the season.

Cherki's performance was exceptional, as he not only scored the winning goal but also provided the assist for Reijnders' opener. According to Opta Analyst, Cherki has been involved in eight Premier League goals since the beginning of November, a figure surpassed only by Erling Haaland and Bruno Fernandes. Furthermore, his assist for Reijnders was his seventh league assist since November 1, more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues.

Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the significance of the win, especially against a tough opponent like Nottingham Forest. He joined in the celebrations with the City fans after the final whistle.

Nottingham Forest's starting lineup included John Victor, Neco Williams, Morato, Murillo, Ibrahim Sangaré, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Manchester City's squad featured Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rúben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Aké, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Erling Haaland.

With this victory, Manchester City continues their strong push for the Premier League title, showcasing their resilience and attacking prowess. Rayan Cherki's contribution was particularly noteworthy, underlining his growing importance to the team.