Premier League | Gameweek 36

May 11, 2025 at 2.15pm UK

The City Ground

Nott'm Forest vs Leicester

Match preview

After two years of fending off the threat of relegation to the Championship, two-time European champions Nottingham Forest have moved on to bigger and better things in the 2024-25 campaign, with the East Midlands outfit now in contention for the league phase of the Champions League.

The Tricky Trees were as high as second in the Premier League at the start of the season, but Sunday's hosts have stuttered and dropped points in recent weeks, the latest of which came on Monday night when Forest and Crystal Palace played out a stalemate at Selhurst Park.

After a goalless first period, the ice-cold Eberechi Eze converted from the penalty spot to put Oliver Glasner's Eagles in front, but the visitors struck back and centre-back Murillo scored his second league goal of the season to earn a share of the spoils.

Having won just one of their last five top-flight matches, Nuno Espirito Santo's side have slipped to sixth in the Premier League table, two points behind Newcastle United and Chelsea in fourth and fifth respectively.

Despite recent back-to-back defeats at the City Ground to Everton (1-0) and Brentford (2-0), the Tricky Trees have been solid across the board this season, conceding just 13 goals in 17 matches, tied with Liverpool for the best home defensive record.

After a dismal 11-match winless run in the Premier League that stretched back to the end of January, Leicester fans had something to cheer about last Saturday afternoon when their relegated side produced a promising performance against whipping boys Southampton at the King Power Stadium.

Foxes legend Jamie Vardy, who scored his eighth top-flight goal of the season at the age of 38, fired his side into an early lead against the hapless Saints before veteran striker Jordan Ayew doubled the lead as the hosts kept a clean sheet for the first time since October.

Leicester, who recorded only their fifth top-flight maximum in 35 games, moved to 21 points but remain 19th in the Premier League table, 16 points adrift of 17th-placed West Ham United, who have nine points to play for.

The Foxes have picked up just one point during their current six-game winless streak in the Premier League, with their last away success coming on 26 January when goals from Vardy and Bilal El Khannous sealed a shock triumph at Europa League finalists Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United hero Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was parachuted in to replace the sacked Steve Cooper in December, is unsure of his future at the King Power Stadium after just four wins in 24 games, with Leicester reportedly sounding out potential replacements ahead of next season's Championship campaign.

Recent Performance

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:WLLWLD

Nottingham Forest form (all competitions):LLWLLD

Leicester City Premier League form:LLDLLW

Team News

Nottingham Forest will be without the services of influential winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has been ruled out of this weekend's game with a hamstring injury.

There are also concerns over the fitness of first-choice defender Murillo, who limped off at Selhurst Park on Monday night.

If the 22-year-old is unable to make the trip to the City Ground, Serbian international Nikola Milenkovic would join Morato in the centre-back partnership.

Leicester will be without first-choice goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, who is out for the rest of the season with a hernia.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid (muscle), Abdul Fatawu (knee), Stephy Mavididi (muscle) and Ricardo Pereira (muscle) join the Danish shot-stopper in the treatment room.

Facundo Buonanotte missed the win over Southampton with a concussion and the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee is a doubt for Sunday's game.

Possible starting lineup

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Elanga; Wood

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Faes, Thomas; Ndidi, Skipp; McAteer, Ayew, El Khannouss; Vardy