Liverpool are considering a move for Nottingham Forest's Brazilian centre-back Murillo, 22, but could face competition from Chelsea. (Teamtalk), external
Nottingham Forest have opened talks with 32-year-old New Zealand striker Chris Wood over a new contract. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Tom Gayle
BBC Radio 5 live reporter at King Power Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesBefore the start of the season, you would be hard pushed to find a Nottingham Forest fan who wouldn't have Morgan Gibbs-White in their best starting XI. For many, he would probably be the first name on the team-sheet.
However, the performances of Elliot Anderson in the number 10 role during Gibbs-White's two-game absence won't have gone unnoticed by manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
During their wins over Crystal Palace and Leicester City, Anderson's attacking metrics of chances created, completed dribbles, touches in and passes into the opposition box, comfortably surpassed the totals he achieved in his previous seven Premier League appearances for the club.
Gary Neville was part of the Sky Sports punditry team at Leicester City and he described the 21-year-old as "a hell of a player" of whom "there is so much to like". The former England defender also added Anderson "will take some shifting", even when Gibbs-White returns from injury.
It doesn't appear to be a question of playing one or the other.
Anderson and Gibbs-White have started six of Forest's nine Premier League games together this season. Yet it is Gibbs-White who has played in the number 10 role during that time, producing the form which led to him making his England senior debut last month.
One of Anderson's strengths is his versatility. He played every midfield position possible during his time at Newcastle United, as well as being a winger on either flank.
Under Nuno, he has largely been used as a defensive or left midfielder, before being utilised in the number 10 role due to Gibbs-White’s ankle problem.
Three seasons ago, the then teenager Anderson was on loan at Bristol Rovers in League Two. A consistent spell as an attacking midfielder saw him score eight goals and provide five assists across 21 appearances for the club.
I spoke to other members of the media at the King Power Stadium, who watch Nottingham Forest week in week out, and they were unanimous in agreement that number 10 is his best position.
Gibbs-White travelled to Leicester with the squad and when I asked Nuno for an update on the club's record signing, he said: "He's getting better. Every day we have to assess him. So let's see if he is available for the next game."
The speed of his recovery will dictate whether there is even a debate to be had over Forest's first choice number 10, but Anderson has already staked a claim.
Image source, Getty ImagesA Nottingham Forest-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.
Kevin asked: Hi Phil, amid a weekend of controversial VAR calls and late wins and equalisers, do you think the most underrated team at the moment is Nottingham Forest? A 3-1 East Midlands Derby win and up to seventh in the table with a fourth-place goalscorer in Chris Wood? I think they deserve so much more recognition for their achievements.
Phil answered: Hi Neil. Fully agree. Nottingham Forest deserve great praise for that they have done so far this season, although I do think they have been getting credit - and what a season Chris Wood is having.
Nuno has quietly put a Forest team together in exactly the way he likes. Solid defence, pace on the flanks and a central goal threat - very much like he did at Wolves.
The atmosphere at the City Ground is always special and it will be even better if Forest's form carries on.
Read more from the Q&A with Phil McNulty and the rest of Monday's football news
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Nottingham Forest's start to the season has been "phenomenal" under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Forest sit in seventh, having taken 16 points from the first nine games, which is already a vast improvement on last season in which they finished 17th on 32 points - after a four point deduction.
"What a brilliant start they have had," said Robinson on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "You can only give them credit for where they are.
"We are only nine games into the season but they are already halfway to last season's points total. That is phenomenal.
"Nuno all of a sudden seems to be the right fit for them. There is a lot of good feeling around Forest at the minute and Nuno has to take credit for that. The system and way they play is getting results and Chris Wood is scoring goals.
"Wood seems to be going on to the pitch each week knowing he can score goals and that is an incredible feeling for any player to have.
"But with success comes expectation, so what is the expectation or reality for this season? I think you just have to enjoy the ride."
Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League striker Alan Shearer says Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood is "in the form of his life" after netting his sixth and seventh league goals of the season against Leicester City.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: "He is unbelievable. He is in the form of his life. He is in the place where you're not hoping you are going to score goals, instead you actually know you're going to go out and score them.
"He is just full of confidence. He scored two very different goals against Leicester. For the first one, it is his movement to go into the box and get around the defenders, then his first touch and the swivel, then how he wraps his foot around the ball the way that he did.
"He had no other thought in his mind. He knew exactly where the goal was and there wasn't even one thought about passing it to anyone else. He just wanted to get the shot away - and why shouldn't he with the form he is in?
"For his second goal, he is just too strong for Wout Faes. His awareness of where he is, where the goalkeeper is and what he has to do is so impressive. It was a clever finish to just guide it in with his head, over the goalkeeper.
"It should be a great feeling for him."
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.
Here are some of your comments:
Ian: First half, we played like we were attacking at home. To their credit, Leicester exploited the open play and looked dangerous, without really worrying our goalkeeper. Second half, we started so well and it knocked the stuffing out of Leicester. They lost their way, while we looked totally in control. I hope this run lasts!
Ashley: Once they matched Leicester in the midfield, there was only team equipped to win that game. A tougher run of games isn't too far away, so that was a massive three points!
Lewis: A dominant display and we should have had more goals, after hitting the woodwork a couple of times and Yates skying his shot from four yards out. We look a proper outfit this season and we are still improving. Hopefully we can solidify as a Premier League team now, in readiness for next season. That reminds me, I must check my passport!
Scott: It was ironic that Yates opened the scoring, because no manager did more for his game than Steve Cooper. Nuno is getting a chance to show everyone what a good manager he is. Fifth doesn't mean anything at this stage, but it is nice to see. The next three fixtures will give us some more clarity about where we really are - they are all established teams.
Ben: I have to keep pinching myself when I'm looking at where we are now compared with three years ago. I was so impressed with our second-half performance, and long may Chris Wood's scoring continue. The fact we keep accumulating points, without both MGW and Danilo, shows our depth and how good our recruitment has been. I can't believe Milenkovic was only £12m - what a steal!
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
Have your say on Leicester’s performance, external
What did you make of Nottingham Forest’s display?, external
Come back to this page on Saturday to find a selection of your replies
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesDefensively, this is Nottingham Forest's best start to a season since 1980 when they were champions of Europe.
Just six goals conceded in the Premier League - only Liverpool have let in fewer - has been the foundation of a promising opening eight games before Friday's match at Leicester. Nikola Milenkovic's influence, after his £12m move from Fiorentina, has been crucial while Matz Sels is firmly established as number one.
Forest had three goalkeepers last term, Matt Turner, Odysseas Vlachodimos and Sels after his January arrival. Only the Belgium international is still at the club after Turner's loan move to Crystal Palace and Vlachodimos' transfer to Newcastle and he remains cautious of talking up Forest this season.
"We can compare our statistics to 1980 but - I know it's a cliche - we need to look at it week by week and try to get to 40 points as quickly as possible," Sels said. "Only then, can we maybe set our objectives higher.
"It's difficult when you don't take points at the beginning of the season - you start to play with pressure in every game.
"That's why it was so important for our confidence that we were playing well and picking up points from our first games at the start of the season. Now we are trying to continue this way."
Image source, Getty ImagesEarlier, we asked you to identify the former Nottingham Forest player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.
The correct answer was Ian Woan.
Former Nottingham Forest forward and now lead coach for the under-18s Lewis Grabban has been talking about the importance of the club's academy on Shut Up And Show More Football:
"The club are always trying to improve and that is the main thing. The path is still there to come through but time moves on and the club are still trying to progress in that element too.
"We definitely aren't thinking that it’s done, that we’ve got it made because we are still trying to improve and that is just the direction of the whole club.
"The academy needs to mirror what the rest of the club is doing."
On if it is getting harder for players to break into the first team: "It is tough but that is the nature of the Premier League.
"The players have to be better so therefore the academy needs to be better. The boys need to apply themselves more than before because of the competition for places."
On changes at the club since he finished playing: "There has been massive improvements.
"There have been squad improvements, structure improvements [and] academy improvements. Naturally, every time we stay in the Premier League, season on season, [we] want to try and improve your infrastructure to maintain that status.
"Everything needs to be geared towards being that Premier League club. You can't coast through season on season without making those improvements because other clubs are moving at such a rapid pace that you have to stay with it."
Listen to the full episode 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.
Guess the former Nottingham Forest player from their Premier League statistics at the club:
Years at club: 1990-2000
National team: England
Position: Midfielder
Appearances: 172
Goals: 17
Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter 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
Image source, Getty ImagesHere 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
Image source, Getty ImagesHere 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
Image source, Getty ImagesNuno Espirito Santo has said Nottingham Forest will not become "over the moon" about their fine start to the season, but praised Chris Wood for his goalscoring form.
Wood has five goals in eight matches in 2024-25 and Nuno was asked about the striker in his news conference for the game at Leicester City on Friday.
He said: "There's no secret. It's always about preparing him and the team well. We try to give the players routines and things that can improve their performance. Then, it's Chris. The credit goes to him."
The Portuguese was also humble about the Reds' impressive defence, with the side conceding just six goals so far - a record bettered only by Premier League leaders Liverpool.
"The basics was one of our priorities in terms of improvement," Nuno added.
"Since we started pre-season, we wanted to become more solid and compact, not allowing too many chances. Matz [Sels] is doing fantastically well.
"It's nothing special, honestly! It's what I think a football team has to become. It has to be solid, compact, and always covering and helping each other, throwing your body in front of the ball. This is defending. This is the basics of football.
"If we ignore this aspect of the game then things become much harder. If you only rely on how, where and how many we are going to score, I see it the other way round.
"When there is too many compliments, they are not good. We are doing well, period. We have to stay and improve. Don't think that it's over the moon."
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeicester 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."
Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Researcher
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Leicester (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news: "We are still assessing how the players are recovering."
On Morgan Gibbs-White's recovery from injury: "It's a day-by-day process. He's better today - let's hope he is better tomorrow and we can keep assessing."
Nuno said he "doesn't want to comment" on Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis' stadium ban: "We didn't have a chance to speak about it and it's an issue that isn't my concern. Hopefully it doesn't distract us and we can stay focused."
On his own touchline ban: "We are making sure that things go normally like it did [against Crystal Palace]. We are in constant communication and we are trying to prepare for Leicester."
He said his side's position in the league table is "not important", adding: "It's the performances that matter. What we want is to go to Leicester and compete in the same way that we did here at home and against Chelsea. Our bar is high and we want to keep going."
On Steve Cooper facing Forest for the first time since leaving the club: "I think it's a normal day. Many managers manage a team and then face them. Steve did an amazing job here and will always be remembered. We are trying to follow on from his amazing work."
On Friday's opponents: "[It will be] a tough match. It's not easy to achieve back-to-back wins in the Premier League and they have done it. They are in a good moment. We have to try to fight and be better than them. It's always the same philosophy."
Follow all of Wednesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
