Leicester City

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Steve Cooper faces Nottingham Forest for the first time since he left almost a year ago and he cannot escape the talk about his past.

The 44-year-old was hesitant to discuss his time at the City Ground, which ended with the sack last December, at his news conference on Wednesday.

It was an understandable move as he looks to endear himself to the Leicester fans but it is impossible to airbrush history.

Cooper's spell at Nottingham Forest cannot go down as anything but a success given he guided them back to the Premier League after 23 years and kept them there.

That should be acknowledged - and few would have begrudged him doing so.

The manager is nothing but respectful and it is clear why he opted to give the questions about Forest - and any comparisons with his current ownership - a swerve.

Despite back-to-back wins against Bournemouth and Southampton, Cooper feels he still needs to win the trust of some Foxes fans.

Victory against his old side tonight would go a long way to doing that.

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Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy says Steve Cooper has added his own layers to the success the Foxes had last season.

Vardy has three goals in eight league matches under the Welsh manager, already matching the tally he managed in the whole of his last Premier League campaign (2022-23)

"It’s been great [under Cooper]," Vardy told the club website. "He’s got his own ideas, he’s wanted to keep some bits from last year with how successful we were and he’s just added layers on to what we could do.

"That’s what we’ve been doing, working on the training field and trying to implement that when it comes to games. He’s working with us every single day so he can see what everyone’s capable of and tell us what he wants from us."

The Foxes will be looking for their third win in a row against local rivals Nottingham Forest on Friday, a team which Cooper managed until 2023.

"These are the games that bring out the extra spice, but what we need to realise is that it’s just another game," added Leicester's number nine. "There’s no point letting all the hype around it get to you.

"We know it’s going to be tough. We want to win, they want to win, so we’ll see what happens on Friday. They’ve started really well, but it’s the Premier League, one of the best leagues in the world, and it’s so competitive.

"It doesn’t matter who you’re playing one week to the next - anyone can beat anyone on their day."

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Former Leicester City defender Liam Moore believes Steve Cooper's approach to management will put the Foxes in a "good position to have a strong season", and likened the Welsh boss to Premier League winning manager Claudio Ranieri.

Speaking on the latest When You're Smiling podcast, Moore said: "I really do enjoy some of the quotes that he comes up with in his press conferences.

"Claudio Ranieri is Claudio Ranieri - look at what he went on to do at this club - but Steve Cooper's approach is very similar, in terms of that sole focus on small goals. It is about taking each game as it comes and reassessing after that.

"I think that [way of thinking] puts you in a good position to have a strong season. They are taking one game at a time, letting the noise come from the outside, and then from the inside, it is just about building that process."

The Leicester City academy graduate added that he is hoping it will be "the perfect Friday night under the lights" for Steve Cooper's side against Nottingham Forest.

"This is an absolutely amazing game," Moore said. "This is a game that obviously means a lot to the city.

"You want to see your team go out there and really go for it, but I'm not so sure that is the tactic we're going to see. I think it might be cagey early on, with that rivalry atmosphere in the stands and on the pitch.

"I do think that when you let the players go, like they did in the second half against Southampton, it will get the fans on their feet and get the atmosphere absolutely rocking. I'm looking forward to seeing a positive performance."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week nine, he takes on rapper Nemzzz, who supports Manchester United.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Leicester City came back from the dead to beat Southampton last time out, so they will be full of confidence.

But I have a feeling Nottingham Forest will edge this. They don't score a lot of goals, but they are very impressive at the back - they have conceded six goals in their first eight league games, and only leaders Liverpool have a better defensive record.

So I am going to go for another 1-0 Forest win, the same result as against Palace on Monday, which was the scoreline I predicted.

Forest may have an injury issue with Callum Hudson-Odoi and if he does miss this game it will be a blow, but the old 'Wood-chopper' - Chris Wood - is unstoppable for them at the moment, with three goals in his past four games.

Get him in your Fantasy team - that’s my advice.

Nemzzz's prediction: 0-2

Leicester are at home but Forest are doing much better at the moment.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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After a season away, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest resume their East Midlands rivalry when they face off in the Premier League at King Power Stadium on Friday.

While they go head to head on the pitch, we have asked our fan writers for each club to go head to head off it.

Each fan got to ask three questions to each other before the big game...

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

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Here is what our Foxes fan Kate Blakemore had to say in response to questions from our Forest fan Saveena Johal.

What do you make of Steve Cooper's start at Leicester, when also thinking about how his spell went at Forest?

Cooper's start has felt a little stuttered.

He has an overly cautious approach to games. While understandable with a newly promoted side, it can also appear like he is afraid to remove the shackles.

This seems to follow some of the attritional football he used at Forest, hoping for a counter-attack. But the team he inherited are used to possession-based tactics.

He is still finding his feet and, after two crucial wins on the bounce, we are now heading into Friday looking to get nine points from nine.

He is yet to figure out his starting XI, but improvements are being seen and hopefully this winning run can be extended and confidence can grow.

Which Leicester player would you say Forest should be most worried about?

Facundo Buonanotte. The 19-year-old loanee from Brighton has already become a fan favourite.

The Argentine has shown the skill and flair now expected from a nation of great footballers and is our joint top scorer with Vardy.

He has ability and skill probably last seen in a Leicester shirt with Riyad Mahrez and his goalscoring ability from anywhere on the pitch has left defenders in his wake.

He is the main threat and has improved each game - both creatively and physically. His link-up play with Abdul Fatawu on the right has been successful and this partnership looks increasingly threatening.

What areas of Leicester's team are you concerned Forest might be able to exploit?

We have conceded so many goals down our right-hand side. James Justin has had a tough start and is often overloaded each game. He is arguably a natural left-back, but has been chosen to play on the right in place of Ricardo Pereira, with Victor Kristiansen being preferred on the left.

Cooper is also consistently playing Wilfred Ndidi as a high eight, which hampers our attacking options. Ndidi certainly has a place in the 13 or 14 players used each game, but his ability on the ball is poor, the passing can be left wanting and he is not reactive enough in attacking opportunities.

Many will say his stats are encouraging (most assists in the team) but this more highlights Leicester's low tally of attacking plays rather than Ndidi's prowess. He is a ball-winning, destructive defensive midfielder by trade and this is where he should stay. As the expression goes - if it looks like a duck...

Find more from Kate Blakemore at Leicester Till I Die, external

Saveena Johal
Fan writer

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Here is what our Forest fan Saveena Johal had to say in response to questions from our Foxes fan Kate Blakemore.

Who is 'one to watch' in Nottingham Forest's team?

Elliot Anderson has been unreal for us from the moment we signed him, to the dismay of majority of the Newcastle fanbase.

He has recently garnered a lot of attention, having had the opportunity to start in place of Morgan Gibbs-White. During the recent Crystal Palace match, he nonchalantly whipped through their defence twice within the space of 20 seconds. It was a beautiful sight, and we are expecting more of the same on Friday.

He has also been brilliant for England Under-21s, and it is only a matter of time until he makes it into the senior squad.

What is the Forest goalkeeper's biggest weakness?

At a stretch, this would likely be catching crosses.

Saying that, Matz Sels used to struggle with saving long shots until the Chelsea game when this seemed to instantaneously improve. He has plenty of strengths, so we are extremely confident in his abilities as a number one keeper.

He has had many standout performances recently, and so momentum is high.

What area or position of the pitch has led to the most goals conceded?

With the second-best defensive record so far this season, we have not had many problems with conceding.

Of the six goals we have let in, four of these have been within the penalty area. Two goals just outside of the penalty area came during the Wolves and Brighton matches, with the former being a brilliant strike that Selz could not do an awful lot with.

This is in stark contrast to last season, particularly when we consider the improvements in set-piece defending.

Find more from Saveena at Punjabi Forest, external

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We asked for your views on one thing nobody is talking about at Leicester.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: Why can't Ricardo Pereira, our best right back, get a start? Justin has done OK, but is probably at his best on the left where Kristiansen has been inconsistent. But Ricardo isn't getting a chance. Who's he offended?

Ben: I think Buanonotte is a hidden gem and could be so good in the future. He’s already lighting up the Premier League as a teenager but he’s on loan at us. This is like the same situation as Fatawu last season. We need to sign him on a permanent deal in my opinion because he could be so good in a couple of years.

Reuben: Everyone's too busy raving about Buonanotte or Fatawu to notice Hermansen. Give this guy some respect! I think he's right up there in the conversation for one of the best keepers in the league.

Northern fox: I think the thing no one is talking about is that the fans expectations haven't been realistic since we were relegated. We aren't challenging for Europe, we have had financial uncertainty. Cooper has done a good job of balancing the team with limited resources. The online 'fans' particularly are becoming the downfall of the club, it's sad to see.

Basil: There's a resilience building in the squad that we've not seen since the Claudio days. I'm still concerned about the lack of leaders on the pitch, but credit to Steve Cooper for instilling the fighting spirit.

Alan: What’s happening with the stadium extension and additional facilities?

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Leicester boss Steve Cooper refused to speak about his Nottingham Forest past before his City Ground return.

The 44-year-old faces Forest for the first time since being sacked last December at King Power Stadium on Friday.

Cooper, who spent just over two years at the City Ground, guided Forest back to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years when they won the Championship play-offs in 2022.

The Foxes are looking for three straight wins after victories over Bournemouth and Southampton - and Cooper was eager to steer clear of his past.

He said: "We did all that in the summer. It's about the work with the club here and the players here. It doesn’t matter who we play now - that's completely where my focus is.

"That's enough to consume me and my mind. People that know me will know I stay on task with the job I do and don't let anything interfere with that. That is the same this week."

Forest are eighth after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 on Monday, but a Leicester win would leave them a point behind and lift them into the top 10.

Cooper added: "This is just about the game. This is just about the players we are working with and the staff, getting ready for an exciting game - Friday night under the lights, live on TV.

"This is why the team fought so hard last year to get back in the Premier League, and the same for the opposition as well. That's where my focus is. There is no time to think about anything else.

"I don't want to think about anything else because the moment you are not 100% committed or focused on the job in hand you get punished."

Ciara Fleming
BBC Sport researcher

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On injuries: "Pato [Daka] has been on the grass and is progressing with his rehab. Jannik [Vestergaard] has had a recurrence of his ankle. It is a bit uncertain but hopefully it will only be a couple of weeks. Aside from that, we are as we were."

• His reflections on the win at Southampton: "The last-minute goal painted the headlines but apart from the poor start we were the better team. We were more than good for the win over the 90 minutes. And there's no better reward for the players' commitment than winning matches."

• On the performances of Jordan Ayew and Facundo Buonanotte: "We feel we have a good variety in the team, both in positions and age and experience. We keep saying that this is a Premier League club in every shape and form, but we left and we came back. We have to try to become an established Premier League team again. It was important we brought in some experience and know-how in the summer."

• On competition for places in the squad: "The reality is that you need a squad because it is more than an 11-man game. It's a dangerous game when you don't have competition for places. There will be players on the wrong side of selection who will create questions. Every week I get asked, but that is just the nature of the job."

• On facing former club Nottingham Forest: "It's a perfect game, whether it's the first or last game of the season, because it is a local game. These are games you want to be a part of. You can't fear them. You have to show who you are. Friday is a good opportunity to do that."

• On the Forest fans: "I’ve not thought about it [the reception], to be honest. It's all about the game. I don't think about anything else."

• On enjoying life at Leicester: "I've really enjoyed it. It's a great infrastructure with wonderful facilities. We enjoy our work and enjoy being part of this club. Having the two victories in the past two games has been great because we have seen the joy it has brought to the fans, the staff and the players."

• Cooper added: "You always want more and there's definitely more to give. We see a lot of good in the performances but there's a lot we are still pushing the players on. There will be times where I am sitting here in difficult moments but we have to keep believing in our way."

Follow all of Wednesday's news conferences and latest football news here

Leicester fans - Steve Cooper's position was on the table after a slow start to the season, but consecutive Premier League wins against Bournemouth and Southampton have lifted spirits around King Power Stadium.

So what else should we be noticing?

What's the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad - about the Foxes?

Tell us here, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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A bonus, heartwarming story for you.

Leicester's Facundo Buonanotte went to assist an injured opponent at the weekend. Meanwhile, Southampton played the free-kick quickly, so Bounanotte’s man was free. They raced forward and, two passes later, scored. That is what you get for caring and not getting back into position in the Premier League.

‌Happily, Leicester’s budding Simon of Cyrene had his own redemption. He later scored, played exceptionally and his team won at the death - justice!

‌He didn’t get my man of thematch award however. Twenty-year-old Leicester sub Abdul Fatawu came on and terrorized the opposition defence. A ‘get to by-line’ specialist, watch him, he is going to be special.

Sign up to read more from Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter here

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Former Leicester winger Matt Piper believes the remarkable comeback against Southampton shows the Foxes' players are completely behind boss Steve Cooper.

Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast Piper said: "I was buzzing! Contemplating at half-time whether to turn it off, I thought the game was over - like most people would.

"But clearly we had already come back in a game where we were 2-0 down against Arsenal so there's that little bit in the back of your mind.

"I think the change of shape to a three at the back really helped.

"Anyone that is questioning [Cooper], if you're not playing for the gaffer, you don't flick the switch at half-time. It was a massive result.

"Backing up the three points against Bournemouth against Southampton when we're two down at half time was huge."

The Athletic's Leicester City correspondent Rob Tanner agreed, saying: "Leicester are like the proverbial Forrest Gump box of chocolates - you just don't know what you're going to get!

"First half they were dreadful defensively, but the second half - I don't think I've ever seen a substitution change both teams. Abdul Fatawu coming on changed the entire game. It obviously gave Leicester a huge boost, but you could see the fear in Southampton.

He continued, "I don't think I have ever seen Leicester score such a late winner from a set piece. I have never had doubts that the players weren't playing for Steve Cooper, because we've seen fight in every game."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Chris Forryan
Fan writer

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Did someone once say football is a game of two halves?

Having been away for a month and starting to lose faith in Steve Cooper's tactics and choices for his starting XI, I had this marked down as an early season six-pointer.

However, there was still no starting place for the experienced Ricardo Pereira and, as many of us feared, Harry Winks was also absent for the second straight game.

For me, James Justin plays better on the left, and with both of the Saints' goals coming from the right side, I am unlikely to change my view.

At half-time, I was getting ready to write about how Cooper needed to go, but then he had an epiphany. He made a sub before the 75th minute and on came Winks, even if it was a surprise that the ineffective Wilfrid Ndidi stayed on given the partnership between Winks and Oliver Skipp partnership is starting to develop.

However, epiphanies are like buses, you wait for one to come along…

On came Abdul Fatawau for Viktor Kristiansen with Justin moving to the left (finally) and what a game changer this proved to be.

Fatawu had a hand in all three Foxes goals and if he does not start against Nottingham Forest on Friday then questions should be asked in Parliament!

While you can never rely on Leicester not to mess it up and concede a late breakaway goal, only one team actually looked liked they would win it.

Never doubted it, Steve Cooper is a tactical genius... never say I am fickle!

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The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast has arrived.

Owynn Palmer-Atkin, Matt Piper and The Athletic's Rob Tanner review Saturday's 3-2 victory against Southampton, hear from match-winner Jordan Ayew and look forward to a heavyweight game with Nottingham Forest on Friday.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Football is full of highs.

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And lows.

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Controversy takes hold.

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Moments of madness do too.

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Players become unexpected heroes.

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Some never change.

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There's pain.

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Joy too.

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And, given this ebb and flow of emotion, every so often, even the coolest heads boil over.

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Leicester's Premier League game at home to Wolves has been moved to Sunday 22nd December due to a clash with a Leicester Tigers fixture.

The game was originally set to be played on Saturday 21st, but will now kick-off at 14:00 GMT on the Sunday.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Southampton and Leicester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

Nick: Saints lost because of another tactical mistake by the manager. At 2-0 up his decision to bring a forward on when forced into a substitution for an injured defender changed the defensive balance completely, compounded by moving Walker-Peters, and further exposing the left side.

Jim: Russell Martin needs to go asap, he is embarrassingly out of his depth. Today’s loss was on his poor substitutions, namely Ryan Fraser who was at fault for the first two goals. Russell needs to be shown the exit door before the next game.

Joanna: Abysmal refereeing, but one point all season speaks for itself. I'm tired of the automatic calling for a manager's head, but something has to change. All the optimism from promotion has drained. I'm drained.

Leicester fans

Mike: This was a season defining game. I’m now very confident we will stay up. Steve Cooper needs to pick Fatawu for the Forest match on Friday. Another win then and the Foxes will be comfortable in mid table. Brilliant performance.

James: Talk about leaving it late! A huge win in what will undeniably be a rollercoaster season for the Foxes, but it also masks a catalogue of concerns. Steve Cooper still doesn't know his best starting XI, with Fatawu's constant omission baffling near enough everyone in football, and Leicester are still second best out of the starting blocks. Strewth.

Brad: What a Jekyll and Hyde performance! This is sort of why you love football. From dead and buried to on cloud nine! Cooper is a genius!

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given highlighted Abdul Fatawu's performance in Leicester's victory against Southampton: "This guy is absolutely lightning, he's a brilliant player to come off the bench. He probably should be starting, he's a brilliant talent.

"What I like about him is he's so direct and quick. He allows [Facundo] Buonanotte to go more central as the 10, and he's probably better in that position.

"He's so aggressive with his runs. It's OK doubling up against him, but he can go inside and outside. He was inches away from a wondergoal.

"He looks like a kid who is enjoying his football and plays with a smile on his face. He feels no pressure when he comes on the pitch. Southampton didn't know what to do with him, to go tight or drop off. What an exciting player to look at.

"If Steve [Cooper] doesn't start him, he won't be overly happy. He's a brilliant talent."

Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer added: "You can imagine the feeling the Leicester fans have when they see him ready to come on. He's already got a special affinity, there's no doubt about that. He changed the course of this game."

Watch the full analysis of Leicester's victory here

The latest episode of the When You're Smiling podcast has landed.

Former Leicester defender Liam Moore analyses Saturday's comeback victory against Southampton, and Steve Cooper shares his thoughts on the match.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Gary Lineker brings highlights and analysis from Saturday's Seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man Utd 2-1 Brentford

• Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal

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Leicester boss Steve Cooper spoke to BBC Sport Leicester about Abdul Fatawu after Saturday's victory against Southampton: On Abdul Fatawu, Cooper added: “I personally love him. He’s a character, and he’s definitely there. What I am enjoying, is helping him become an exciting Premier League player. The fans love him, and rightly so. We’ve just got to push him to become the player he can become.”

On the combeack victory: “What a way to win a football match. It’s definitely one for the supporters who go through a lot of emotions. I have a lot of respect for them. Let’s hope today is a memorable day of the season, and one which we can look back on. “

“I’m not going to ignore the first half. That will be addressed. We conceded some poor goals, but I always felt like we were in the game.”

“I walked down the tunnel at half-time, genuinely thinking this game was not over. It was more about believing in our work. We committed to that task, and did what we did.”

“We let them get into areas too easy, and we did not defend the box enough. My job is to look at the whole picture. I want us to get better, and we will.”

“We got up the pitch, but we were not calm enough when we got up there. That changed”

“It’s a good trait that we are showing. What a brilliant example how we need everybody, and everybody is going to play a part this year. A great sign of togetherness and belief. Let’s stay on that positive journey”