Against All Odds: Can Nottingham Forest Push for the Title?
It’s never easy to enter a season ranked among the bottom half of the table, let alone the bottom three in the entire league. Last season, Nottingham Forest clung to survival, finishing 17th and narrowly escaping the drop. With expectations low and doubters everywhere, Forest looked set for another season of struggle. However, being at the bottom can mean two things: rolling over and facing relegation, or rising to the challenge and catching the league by surprise. At the heart of this squad is a team that refuses to back down and a defense that simply won’t crack.
Nottingham Forest’s season so far has been a fairy-tale run. With 12 wins, five draws, and just four losses, they've shown why they deserve to be in the Premier League. Their goal differential of +10 highlights their ability to strike a balance between a solid defense and efficient attacking play. Currently sitting third in the table with 41 points, Forest is only two points behind Arsenal in second and six points behind league leaders Liverpool.
A significant part of Nottingham Forest’s success this season comes from every player stepping up in their own way. Chris Wood has been phenomenal, leading the squad with 13 goals and proving to be the team’s most reliable source of firepower upfront. Supporting the attack, Elliot Anderson and Anthony Elanga have both contributed five assists each. However, despite these efforts, Forest’s total of 30 goals ranks only 13th in the Premier League.
The backbone of Forest’s exceptional form has undoubtedly been their rock-solid defense. Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic have both been extraordinary and have given Forest the chance to do so much this season. I truly have no words for Matz Sels. Looking like prime Manuel Neuer between the posts, Sels has delivered match after match, making every save in the book. This season Sels and the defense have secured nine clean sheets for Forest.
With their upcoming fixtures looking manageable, Nottingham Forest will be aiming to cap off the second half of the season on a high note. Sitting just six points behind league leaders Liverpool, Forest has undoubtedly proven they belong among the Premier League’s elite. But how likely are they to win the title? The answer is simple: it won’t be easy. Liverpool’s form suggests they might slip, and if Forest can capitalize, they could climb into second place and perhaps even make the leap to first. If this season has taught us anything about Forest, it’s that you can’t count them out until the final whistle blows.
