Leicester v Forest Tips: Will the Foxes finally win to leave Forest bottom?

Robin Bairner

3 October 2022

Monday night football sees the Premier League’s two bottom sides, Leicester and Nottingham Forest, square off in an encounter that is already looking vital in the relegation battle.

Brendan Rodgers’ hosts have only taken one point from their first seven matches of the season, but they are 1.83 favourites to take maximum points for the first time, with top-flight new boys Forest in the midst of a four-match losing streak.

While Leicester altered little during the summer transfer window, their opponents took a very different approach, making wholesale changes to their squad. Neither tactic is working, however - indeed, defeat for either manager could be their last in their respective positions.

Rodgers on the brink

Leicester are no longer used to fighting relegation battles. Since their remarkable title success in 2016, they have never finished lower than 12th, and came into this season posting five top-10 finishes in succession. A sixth already looks beyond them.

Since throwing away a two-goal lead on the opening day of the season against Brentford, the Foxes have strung together six successive league defeats. In their last two matches, they have lost 5-2 to Brighton and 6-2 to Tottenham. Both of those heavy losses have come on the road, while at home they have been somewhat more robust but equally ineffective overall.

Rodgers has been vocal in his frustration at the board’s unwillingness to spend in the summer transfer window, but they may be more willing to splash out on a change of manager if there is another negative result here.

Hey big spenders!

Nottingham Forest made plenty of headlines in August as they signed a new squad’s worth of players in an attempt to make an assault on the Premier League. The ploy hasn’t worked yet. A 1-0 win over West Ham back on August 14 is their only victory to date, while they have now slumped to four defeats in a row.

What is most alarming about their present slide is that they have faced fellow promoted sides Bournemouth and Fulham in this run. Both of these games were at home and each resulted in a 3-2 loss. Having led 2-0 against the Cherries before folding, questions needed to be asked about their mentality.

Although Forest famously beat Leicester 4-1 in the FA Cup in February, it’s worth remembering they were, quite literally, a different team.

Back the Foxes to feast

These teams have conceded 39 times between them this season, meaning goals would appear to be a formality here. Over 2.5 can be backed at 1.72 but, given Leicester’s relatively tight home matches so far, backing any more than that isn’t very appealing.

It’s evident why Leicester are warm favourites to win this game. With Jamie Vardy back, they possess a proven Premier League marksman, while the international break should have allowed them to regather their strength.

Combining both these bets is possible, with odds of 2.8 available on Leicester to win and over 2.5 goals.