Nottingham Forest will face Leicester City next in the Premier League, a match that sees Forest boss Steve Cooper reunited with his former club.
Cooper’s successor at Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo, has swiftly put his stamp on the team, moving the Reds forward with new ideas and a more refined tactical approach.
Forest’s defensive solidity has been key to their early-season success. With just six goals conceded, they currently boast the second-best defence in the Premier League, a record that has propelled them to an impressive eighth place in the standings.
Meanwhile, Leicester City, under Cooper’s leadership, have surprised many with a strong start. Pundits and fans alike had tipped the Foxes for a relegation battle this season, but they’ve proven the doubters wrong.
Their resilience was on full display last time out when they clinched a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory, showcasing the fight Cooper has instilled in the side.
However, Cooper himself has highlighted areas for improvement ahead of the Nottingham Forest encounter, acknowledging the need for sharper performances from his team.
Steve Cooper Highlights Defensive Concerns:
After the Foxes’ hard-fought win over Southampton, Cooper made it clear in his post-match interview that Leicester must not rest on their laurels. Speaking to the Leicester City YouTube channel, Cooper said:
“I don’t want to be too negative but I’ve got to look at the first half as well, you know um, and we need to review that quickly. You know tonight, tomorrow.
“So we’ll get back in with the players at Seagrave and do that. But then yeah moving forward it doesn’t matter who we play next, it’s just about continuing our work, continuing the journey that we want to go on.”
Cooper knows Forest won’t be an easy opponent, especially with striker Chris Wood in red-hot form. Wood has been instrumental in Forest’s positive start, scoring five goals in just eight appearances.
His clinical finishing has drawn praise, with former manager Tim Sherwood calling him “incredible” after his decisive goal against Crystal Palace.
Leicester’s Strengths and Weaknesses:
While Leicester have shown plenty of fight this season, they’ve also conceded 14 goals in eight games, hinting at vulnerabilities in their defence.
However, they’ve been potent in attack, scoring more goals than Forest, with veteran striker Jamie Vardy leading the charge with three to his name.
Forest’s centre-back pairing of Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo will need to be at their best to contain Vardy, whose pace and experience have troubled many Premier League defences.
Interestingly, Jamie Carragher recently suggested that Milenkovic has outshone Murillo this season, calling the Serbian defender “a proper defender” and crediting Forest for securing his services.
As both teams prepare for this intriguing fixture, it promises to be a fascinating clash between two sides eager to build on their early-season momentum.
With Cooper’s Leicester looking to extend their form and Forest’s defence proving tough to break down, this encounter at the King Power Stadium could go either way.