Just In: ‘Hierarchy’ confirms match officials for Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest — referees, stakeholders & more

The Premier League has confirmed the match officials for the crucial clash between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. With City desperate to end a four-game Premier League losing streak, this matchup could be pivotal in their season.

Match Referee: Michael Oliver

Michael Oliver, 39, will be the man in the middle for this fixture. This marks his 12th match of the ongoing Premier League season. Across his first 11 games, Oliver has issued 55 yellow cards, shown one player a second yellow, and awarded no penalties.

For City, Oliver is a familiar face. He has officiated 58 of their matches in his career, with the club securing 42 wins, 6 draws, and 10 losses in those games. City fans may recall his oversight in recent encounters this season, including:

A win over West Ham at the London Stadium

A 2-2 draw against Arsenal at home

A 2-1 loss to Bournemouth

Assistant Referees

Joining Oliver on the field will be Stuart Burt and Scott Ledger as the assistant referees.

VAR Team

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be managed by Peter Bankes, with Dan Cook assisting.

Fourth Official

Handling managerial technical areas and other duties, Tom Bramall will act as the fourth official.

Stakes for Manchester City

City, who currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, are under immense pressure following their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. Injuries to key players like Rodri and poor form from others, including Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan, have compounded their struggles.

The Etihad faithful will hope this fixture marks a turning point, especially after City’s defensive collapse in their last home game, a 3-3 Champions League draw against Feyenoord. Manager Pep Guardiola and captain Ruben Dias, both 27, are optimistic about a bounce-back performance.

Nottingham Forest, managed by Nuno Espirito Santo, will be keen to take advantage of City’s shaky form. However, Michael Oliver’s historical statistics suggest that Manchester City are favorites to regain their footing.