Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United preview: Team news, lineups, prediction
Leeds United face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday in the hopes of improving their dreadful away form.
Leeds lost 3-0 to Brighton at the AMEX last time out, and they must prepare themselves for what could prove to be a relegation six-pointer against Nottingham Forest.
Leeds dropped to 16th place with the defeat, yet their gap over the relegation zone has been cut to five points ahead of the last international break of the year.
They take on a Nottingham Forest side that sits 19th in the table, and the game could have a huge impact on both teams’ survival hopes.
MOT Leeds News highlights everything you need to know ahead of the match.
Preview
Leeds’ away form has been incredibly poor this season, and if it weren’t for some brilliant performances at Elland Road, Farke’s side could be in a lot more trouble.
Dan James, Jack Harrison, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are among the attackers who have been incredibly disappointing, and they must improve instantly should Leeds distance themselves further away from the relegation zone.
Farke is under increasing scrutiny, and worries over the lack of attacking reinforcements in the summer have been brutally exposed many times this season.
Forest have already sacked two managers in 2025-26, with both Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou leaving the club, as the hosts sit five points behind Leeds.
Forest finished seventh in the Premier League last season, but a dreadful start to the season has left new manager Sean Dyche with a huge task on his hands.
Form guide
Nottingham Forest (last six games all comps): L L L W L D
Leeds (last six games all comps): W D L L W L
Head-to-head
Both teams have incredibly even records against each other, with Forest slightly coming out on top since their first meeting in 1921.
Leeds have beaten Forest 32 times and lost 36 meetings, with 35 of the matches ending in draws.
In recent years, the Peacocks have lost three of the previous 17 meetings, which dates back to 2012.
Their last match took place in April 2023, where goals from Harrison and Luis Sinisterra saw Leeds overcome Forest 2-1 at Elland Road.
The clash will be an incredibly intense fixture, and there is little separating the teams.
Team news and predicted lineups
Anton Stach could make a return to the starting line-up, and Farke has a decision over whether to replace Ao Tanaka in his favour.
Despite performing poorly against Brighton, Gabriel Gudmundsson is expected to keep his place.
However, Farke could opt to bring Pascal Struijk back into the fold for the disappointing Jaka Bijol.
James will be useful against Forest, with his pace potentially providing a huge asset against Forest, meaning Brenden Aaronson could drop out of the team.
Willy Gnonto may return to the squad, although a starting place seems to come too soon for the young Italian winger.
As for the hosts, Douglas Luiz and Callum Hudson-Odoi are likely to be unavailable, whilst Chris Wood is still out with a knee injury.
Angus Gunn, Ola Aina, Oleksander Zinchenko, and Dilane Bakwa are all sidelined with long-term injuries.
Nottingham Forest predicted XI: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, McAtee; Jesus
Leeds predicted XI: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Longstaff, Tanaka; James, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Leeds
Forest are expected to beat Leeds, and Dyche’s side will be incredibly well organised at a raucous City Ground.
Not only have Leeds failed to score in four of their five away matches, but they have conceded 11 goals in those games.
Farke will desperately need his team to start converting the gilt-edged chances they’ve been missing, and if they don’t, it could be another frustrating trip for the away supporters.
Unfortunately for Farke, Dyche’s side may pose too much of a threat for Leeds to get a positive result out of the match.
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