Leeds v Nottingham Forest preview
Leeds United supervisor Daniel Farke expects Nottingham Forest to make it “troublesome to create possibilities” when the perimeters who’re stage on 26 factors meet at Elland Highway on Friday.
With 14 league matches remaining, each groups are six factors above third-bottom West Ham with an eight-goal superiority – and the Hammers face a winnable-looking journey to second-bottom Burnley on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
“I’m assured that with this group we will obtain our objectives,” stated Farke. “We’re succesful to win sufficient factors to win the correct to remain on this league.
“Nothing is achieved but, although. In each recreation day you need to combat to win factors. We’ve got to be on it, targeted, concentrated and we will certainly want our supporters.
⏪ Rewind: Nottingham Forest pic.twitter.com/xprBdEJPih
— Leeds United (@LUFC) February 4, 2026
“Forest are a crew of a lot of particular person high quality; they certified for Europe final season and spent a lot of cash final summer time.
“They’re positively sturdy opponents and in opposition to these sides it’s by no means straightforward to create possibilities, to open them up.”
The Whites had misplaced one in every of their earlier 11 matches in all competitions earlier than a 4-0 residence defeat to Arsenal final Saturday, whereas Forest have taken eight factors from their final 4 league video games following a 1-1 draw at residence to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
“The gamers don’t want me to maintain reminding them concerning the video games,” stated boss Sean Dyche. “I’ve spoken endlessly about them.
“My mentality – and what I’m attempting to instil within the gamers – is that each recreation is a giant recreation and we should always go into it believing we will win.
“It’s not straightforward, however that’s the mentality I need. The noise may be the noise and also you see by way of that with pure mentality to ship at any time when that whistle goes. We’re exhibiting indicators of getting there.”
Leeds United v Nottingham Forest crew information
Leeds centre-back Jaka Bijol (hamstring) might be in competition and full-back James Justin (bruised toe) is obtainable after each returned to coaching.
Farke provided “superb information” on Daniel James, saying the winger is “making progress” on a comeback from a hamstring harm.
The German described Lukas Nmecha’s involvement as “in all probability unlikely”, with the ahead “not too distant” from being again in coaching following a hamstring problem.
Anton Stach sustained a hip drawback throughout the defeat to Arsenal. Farke expects the midfielder to be out for between 10 and 14 days.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels might return for Forest following a hip problem however Stefan Ortega, who has joined on mortgage from Manchester Metropolis, is obtainable to deputise.
Midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi is a doubt with a shoulder drawback and defender Nicolo Savona is anticipated to return later in February from a knee harm.
Neco Williams is suspended for receiving a crimson card in opposition to Palace, so Luca Netz might exchange the full-back, having arrived from Borussia Monchengladbach.
Goalkeeper John Victor and striker Chris Wooden are out with long-term knee accidents and towering Napoli loanee Lorenzo Lucca might make his debut in assault.
Leeds United v Forest predicted line ups
Leeds United beginning XI: Karl Darlow, James Justin, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto
Nottingham Forest beginning XI: Stefan Ortega, Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Luca Netz, Ryan Yates, Omari Hutchinson, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Douglas Luiz, Dan Ndoye, Igor Jesus
Leeds v Forest: TV channel, on-line reside streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with reside protection within the UK on Sky Sports activities Predominant Occasion, Sky Sports activities Premier League and Sky Sports activities Extremely.
Through Now TV, Sky Sports activities prices £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Sky Sports activities memberships embody entry to all 12 reside Sky Sports activities channels and Sky Sports activities+, which presents reside streams and a devoted channel.
Streaming is obtainable on an enormous number of units by way of the Sky GO app.
Leeds v Nottingham Forest stats
- Leeds have received their final three Premier League residence video games in opposition to Nottingham Forest (1996, 1999 and 2023) and scored in every of their 25 top-flight residence matches within the fixture
- Farke’s facet have received all 4 of their Premier League night time matches at Elland Highway this season (19:30 or later), most lately beating Palace 4-1 in December
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored 9 Premier League objectives this season, solely twice earlier than reaching double figures in a single marketing campaign (13 in 2019/20, 16 in 2020/21)
- The final Englishman to attain 10 league objectives of their first season with Leeds was Matt Smith in 2013/14 (12 within the Championship)
- Solely Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister (31) has had extra pictures with out scoring than Leeds’ Pascal Struijk (22) within the division this season, with Struijk accumulating the very best anticipated objectives complete with no aim to date (2.32)
- After a run of six defeats in seven Premier League video games throughout October and November (W1), Leeds have misplaced two of their final 11 for the reason that begin of December (W3 D6)
- Forest need to full a league double over Leeds for the primary time since 2013/14, and for simply the second time ever within the top-flight, after 1995/96
- They’ve misplaced one in every of their final 15 Premier League video games in opposition to promoted sides (W9 D5), struggling a 1-0 residence defeat in opposition to Sunderland earlier this season
- An unbeaten run of their final 4 Premier League video games (W2 D2) is their longest sequence with out defeat this season, final going longer between December and January final season (8)
- Solely backside facet Wolves (6.7%) have a decrease shot conversion price than Nottingham Forest within the Premier League this season (8.5%). Forest ranked joint-Sixth in that respect within the competitors final season (12.5%)
- Morgan Gibbs-White has both scored (3) or assisted (1) a aim in 4 of his final 5 Premier League appearances, in addition to scoring Forest’s winner in opposition to Leeds in November
