Following their incredible fightback last weekend, Leicester City will seek three wins from three when they welcome local rivals Nottingham Forest to King Power Stadium on Friday.
Foxes boss Steve Cooper must face down his former club, who occupy eighth place in the Premier League table after beating Crystal Palace earlier this week.
Match preview
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After winning none of their first six league games following promotion, Leicester City have since won both of the last two, with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth just before the international break being followed by a dramatic five-goal thriller last time out.
After strikes from Facundo Buonanotte and Jamie Vardy drew them level against Southampton, Jordan Ayew netted a last-gasp decider on the south coast, and his goal – timed at 97 minutes and 34 seconds – was Leicester’s latest Premier League winner since such records began 18 years ago.
In fact, the Foxes came from two down to win a top-flight match for the first time in no fewer than 67 attempts, showing great spirit to sink the Saints and move up to 14th place in the standings.
Steve Cooper’s side have now picked up five points from losing positions, and as one of just three teams to score in every Premier League game this season – alongside Arsenal and Manchester City – they certainly pose a threat to any opponents.
However, having conceded the first goal in six of their eight games thus far, they must try to make a more convincing start against their East Midlands rivals.
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Leicester cannot afford to fall behind given Nottingham Forest’s defensive record in this season’s Premier League, as only leaders Liverpool have conceded fewer goals so far.
Even though they allowed Crystal Palace to have 20 attempts on Monday, Forest kept another clean sheet in the process of posting their first home win in the top flight this term, with Chris Wood‘s second-half winner securing maximum points at the City Ground.
Wood previously scored the opener in a 1-1 draw with high-flying Chelsea just before international football intervened, and his latest strike sent the Tricky Trees into the top half of the table.
That win was achieved without Nuno Espirito Santo in the dugout, due to a three-match suspension, and he must watch on from afar again this weekend, when the visitors aim to extend an impressive record on the road.
Forest are unbeaten in six Premier League away games – their longest such run since 1995 – and have averaged 1.36 points per away match under Nuno, after averaging just 0.46 during Cooper’s reign.
Having beaten Leicester 2-0 in the teams’ last meeting, back in January 2023, they will now hope to repeat that feat and upset their former boss on Friday.
Leicester City Premier League form:
Leicester City form (all competitions):
Nottingham Forest Premier League form:
Team News
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Steve Cooper has a couple of selection issues to ponder ahead of being reunited with his old Forest colleagues: Harry Winks is pushing to replace Oliver Skipp as Wilfred Ndidi‘s partner in central midfield, while young winger Abdul Fatawu seeks a rare start.
The Ghana international made a major impact impact despite being restricted to another cameo role last week, completing two dribbles, winning four duels and having seven touches in the box, in addition to setting up Facundo Buonanotte’s goal. Incidentally, the latter has been directly involved in five goals during his last six Premier League appearances.
There is no doubt about who starts up front, as veteran striker Jamie Vardy has netted three league goals from just nine shots this term; since his top-flight debut in 2014, Vardy boasts the best conversion rate of any player to attempt at least 300 shots in that time (22.1%).
Once again, Patson Daka and Hamza Choudhury will be sidelined, while Nottingham Forest’s injury list features long-term absentees Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo.
The visitors can welcome both Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse back from bans, boosting Nuno’s options behind lone striker Chris Wood, who scored his fifth Premier League goal of the season on Monday evening.
Gibbs-White has been struggling with an injury, though, so he will need to pass a fitness test in order to play any part; Elliot Anderson is therefore likely to keep his place.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Justin, Okoli, Faes, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Winks; Fatawu, Buonanotte, Ayew; Vardy
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Moreno; Yates, Ward-Prowse; Hudson-Odoi, Anderson, Elanga; Wood
There have been at least four goals scored in all four of Leicester’s Premier League home games against Nottingham Forest to date, and that record could be prolonged on Friday.
Although Forest have tightened up at the back, their old foes are clearly improving – particularly in the final third – so the Foxes can pick up a point.
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