East Midlands rivals Leicester City and Nottingham Forest are ready to renew hostilities on Friday.
Leicester City vs Nottingham Forest best bets
Draw – 11/5 with Copybet
Under 2.5 goals – 4/5 with Copybet
Chris Wood to score any time – 9/4 with Copybet
Leicester vs Nottm Forest odds
Find the latest match odds for Leicester vs Nottm Forest. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.
Leicester City vs Nottingham Forest predictions
Unusually for a Leicester City manager, Steve Cooper will receive a fantastic reception from the Nottingham Forest fans on Friday night.
Cooper did a wonderful job at the City Ground. Were it not for him, Forest would probably still be in the Championship right now – or perhaps in an even worse predicament.
When Cooper’s predecessor Chris Hughton was given the heave-ho by the Forest hierarchy in September 2021, the club found itself bottom of the Championship having taken just one point from the first 21 available.
By the end of that season Forest were back in the Premier League for the first time since 1999, as Cooper guided them to promotion via the play-offs.
The Welshman then kept them there despite a chaotic summer of transfer activity which he surely did not endorse. However, he was sacked midway through his third season with Forest again involved in a relegation battle.
Most supporters were sad to see him go. Friday’s game at the King Power Stadium is the first time Forest will come face to face with Cooper since his sacking, and it would not be at all surprising to hear a rendition of his chant from the away end.
The Leicester manager still has a way to go to win over fans of his current club, however. Perhaps in part due to his association with Forest, Cooper has been greeted with a lukewarm reception up to now.
Yet there are signs of a shift under way. After a tough start, Leicester have won back-to-back games against Bournemouth and Southampton. A victory here would move them into the top half of the table, at least until the division’s other 18 teams play over the weekend.
Forest will always view Derby County as their principal rivals, but those two teams have not met in the top tier since 1999. As far as this season is concerned, Leicester are the side they most want to beat.
The feeling is mutual. And if the Foxes do come out on top under the floodlights on Friday, we can expect the King Power faithful to show a little more warmth towards Cooper going forward.
Leicester City vs Nottingham Forest betting tips. 18+ GambleAware.org – Please play responsibly.
Leicester City vs Nottingham Forest betting tips
Leicester City host Nottingham Forest as the Premier League weekend begins on Friday night.
Draw
For all that Nottingham Forest fans are deeply appreciative of Cooper’s efforts, no one is missing him right now.
Nuno Espirito Santo has overseen a fine start to the season for Forest, who climbed up to eighth place in the standings following a 1-0 triumph over Crystal Palace on Monday night.
One difference we have seen compared to the Cooper era is a huge improvement in Forest’s away form.
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That was a notable weak point previously, but Nuno’s team are unbeaten on the road this term. They memorably beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield and also drew 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
So although Leicester have picked up of late, they may have to settle for a point in this match.
Go for a draw at 11/5 with Copybet
Under 2.5 goals
Nottingham Forest’s success so far this season can be credited above all to their defensive solidity.
It is still early days, but the numbers are genuinely impressive. Only Liverpool have conceded fewer goals in the first eight rounds of fixtures.
Nuno’s team have kept three clean sheets, including that one against Crystal Palace last time out, and they are also yet to concede from a set-piece – something they really struggled with in 2023/24.
Both teams will go into the game with a desire to avoid defeat first and foremost. That could lead to a relatively cagey encounter.
While this promises to be an intriguing match-up, the evidence suggests goals will be in relatively short supply.
Tip under 2.5 goals at 4/5 with Copybet
Chris Wood to score any time
Chris Wood is having the time of his life under Nuno.
He was Nottingham Forest’s match-winner against Crystal Palace (albeit with a helping hand from Dean Henderson), taking his tally to the season to five goals.
Only Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer and Bryan Mbeumo have better returns in 2024/25. Meanwhile, since Nuno joined Forest in December last year, only Haaland and Palmer have made the net ripple more often in the Premier League.
Wood, who made 167 appearances for Leicester City earlier in his career, has now established himself as Forest’s go-to striker ahead of Taiwo Awoniyi.
He is a handful for opposition centre-backs and the New Zealand international must be full of confidence right now. Wood can continue his fine form by bagging a goal in this East Midlands derby.
Back Chris Wood to score any time at 9/4 with Copybet
How to watch Leicester City vs Nottingham Forest
Location: King Power Stadium, Leicester, England.
Date and time: Friday 25th October, 8pm.
How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
Premier League winner predictions
Premier League relegation odds
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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