Leicester's title-winning captain Wes Morgan believes the Premier League's top teams should underestimate Nottingham Forest at their peril.
A win against Forest at home to Liverpool this evening would put them at the top of the table after 21 games.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side were 5000-1 at the start of the match, but they were able to draw comparisons with East Midlands rivals Leicester, who won the Premier League in a dramatic fashion.
Defender Morgan, who won that trophy in 2015-16 and represented Forest earlier in his career, is confident the Reds will be able to land instantly if he remains under the radar with the big hitters.
“It could be quite a similar place to Forest and Leicester. No one expects this momentum to continue at the top. So you don't really take it seriously,” said Morgan, who now returns to the City Ground as a national scout for an emerging talent recruiting team.
“You guys go under the radar a little bit, because there's no pressure, which is great for the players.”
“You can do your job without this expectation. Everyone wants that vivid, That headline: Can you win the league? Can you do this?
“They perform better when they don't have that pressure.” When that expectation is much lower.
“That's how you become more successful, and you're free to do what you want with your game.”
Forest are currently third on goal difference behind Arsenal and four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
They have won an impressive last seven games, including a run of six consecutive Premier League games, heading into tonight's clash with the leaders.
COYR pic.twitter.com/1nby1ZXrZQ
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 14 2025
Can Forest do Leicester?
If Forest's fans don't yet dream of winning the title, a win over Liverpool could inspire them to believe.
The 1979 and 1980 European Cup champions have 40 points from 20 games this season. It was incredible when the Foxes were champions.
Forest's solid defense and devastating counter-attacking styles led to Jamie Vardy, Rihad Mahrez and Co had the same traits in 2015-16, but the main difference was probably the opposite sides.
In 2015-16, Claudio Ranieri's men have led since the start of the season, with Manchester City In poor years for the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham led the way at the start of the season with their biggest challengers.
There are not many signs that Liverpool are going away anytime soon this time around, and that could spell bad news for Liverpool.
A team that Arne Slot has dealt his only Premier League defeat so far. Forest at Anfield in September.