Leicester vs Nottingham Forest Prediction: Visitors to edge East Midlands derby

Leicester City and Nottingham Forest meet for the first time in nearly two years on Friday (20:00, Sky Sports Main Event) as the Foxes host the Tricky Trees at the King Power Stadium. Both sides have made encouraging starts to the Premier League season but it's the visitors who head into this East Midlands derby in the top half, four points clear of their rivals.

Below you can find my Leicester vs Nottingham Forest prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Leicester's lengthy injury list includes Patson Daka, Hamza Choudhury, Jannik Vestergaard and Jakub Stolarczyk, who are all ruled out of Friday night's East Midlands derby.

Former Forest favourite Steve Cooper, who masterminded the Tricky Trees' return to the Premier League in 2022 after a 23-year absence, is now in charge of the Foxes and he will be plotting the downfall of his old side.

One player who could be key to his side's chances of success on Friday is Ghanaian winger Issahaku Fatawu, who came off the bench at St Mary's last week to inspire Leicester to a 3-2 win over Southampton, who were leading 2-0 until Facundo Buonanotte started the Foxes' revival on the south coast.

Buonanotte and Fatawu were integral in dragging their side over the line but it was Jordan Ayew who struck the all-important third goal, and he did his chances of joining the pair in the starting XI no harm with that strike.

Harry Winks assisted Ayew's winner and the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder could also earn a start on Friday, potentially in place of another ex-Spurs man, Oliver Skipp.

Football Odds

Forest are still without long-term injury absentees Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare, but head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who will serve the second of a three-game touchline ban, can call on Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse after the double-barrel duo served a suspension of their own in Monday night's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Gibbs-White may have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench, however, after recently struggling with an injury, while the performance of Elliot Anderson behind Chris Wood against Palace means there is no rush to restore MGW back to the starting XI.

Leicester vs Nottingham Forest Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Leicester vs Nottingham Forest page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Leicester are 15/8 to record a third Premier League win on the spin having beaten Bournemouth (1-0) and Southampton back-to-back. Those odds give the hosts an implied probability of 34.8%, while Forest are favourites at 6/4 (40%) to secure their second victory of the week.

The draw, meanwhile, is priced at 12/5, and both teams to score is available at 8/11.

Forest pair Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi (15/8) lead the anytime goalscorer market, followed by veteran Foxes forward Vardy (9/4).

Match Result & Total Goals Over/Under 3.5 - Nottingham Forest & Under 3.5 @ 21/10

Forest ended the 2023/24 season with two wins in their last three games but both victories came against recently relegated clubs in Sheffield United and Burnley, and they had won just one of their 10 previous Premier League games.

Hopes weren't especially high for them at the start of the current campaign, at least in the minds of neutrals, with a mid to lower mid-table finish predicted by many.

However, outlooks have adjusted in recent weeks as they continue their fantastic start to the league season, which has seen them lose just once in their opening eight games - a 1-0 defeat to Fulham on September 28.

The Tricky Trees have won three times this term, beating Southampton and Crystal Palace 1-0 either side of a famous victory at Anfield by the same scoreline. Two of those wins - against Southampton and Liverpool - came on their travels, and they already have half (eight) of last season's away points total (16).

Leicester have also punched above their weight so far, losing just three of their first eight games despite being tipped by many to finish bottom. Part of the thought process behind that was the fact they were threatened with a points deduction, but even without that hanging over their heads, things looked to be difficult for the Foxes, who were forced to move for Cooper after their Championship-winning head coach Enzo Maresca was poached by Chelsea.

The Foxes failed to win any of their first six Premier League game this season but drew half (three) of them before recording back-to-back wins over Bournemouth and Southampton this month.

The question now, is, can they make it three in a row?

I see this East Midlands derby being a close contest, particularly with Forest making things as tight as ever. Nuno's side have conceded just six times in the league this term - only leaders Liverpool (three) have let in fewer goals.

All three of Forest's wins this season have been by 1-0 scorelines, and while I'm not brave enough to back a fourth here, with the Foxes having scored in all eight league outings, I do think they can win with a minimum of fuss, with 2-1 being as high-scoring as I can imagine it on Friday.

Leicester have some exciting attackers of their own with Fatawu and Buonanotte providing the creativity behind the talismanic figure of Vardy, but Forest have the edge in the forward department with the likes of Anderson, MGW, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga buzzing around New Zealand striker Wood, who struck his fifth Premier League goal of the campaign on Monday.

Player Shots On Target - Facundo Buonanotte (LEI) @ 5/6

The Brighton & Hove Albion loanee has had to be patient this season, starting the first two games against Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham before being restricted to substitute outings versus Aston Villa and Everton.

However, after scoring at home to Villa and making an impact in the King Power draw with Everton, the Argentine has returned to the starting XI for the past three matches, scoring the winner against Bournemouth and starting Leicester's comeback at St Mary's last weekend.

He now has three goals for the season and is averaging 0.7 shots on target per game. In addition to his goals against Villa, Bournemouth and Southampton, the 19-year-old has hit the target against Arsenal, while he also tested Cherries goalkeeper Kepa in the Foxes' victory over them.

At home, the teenager is sure to be trying his luck again, and just under EVS looks a very fair price for a supremely talented attacker looking to net in his third successive game.

Offers

Build your own Bet Builder bet (3/1+) of 4+ legs on Leicester v Nottingham Forest and get 50% of your stake back in Free Bets if you lose. (Credited within 24 hours)

Double Delight & Hat-Trick Heaven: Place a pre-match single bet on the first goalscorer market and get DOUBLE or TREBLE the odds if your winning First Goalscorer bet scores a 2nd and 3rd.

Place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Premier League or Championship game on Friday or Saturday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Sunday’s games. (Credited upon Bet Settlement)

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.