Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest: Turning Pre-Season Promise into Points
Leeds United head to the City Ground on Saturday with a clear brief: turn pre-season promise into Premier League points.
Daniel Farke’s side thrashed Augsburg 4-0 in their final warm-up game, a result that doesn’t guarantee anything in August but does sharpen belief. Now comes the real examination against Nottingham Forest, and Farke is expected to go strong with an aggressive 3-4-3 setup.
Trafford Behind a New-Look Back Three
James Trafford is set to start in goal, tasked with bringing calm to a Leeds defence that will be tested far more than it was in that stroll against Augsburg. A clean sheet here would be worth far more than anything achieved in pre-season.
In front of him, Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Tarik Muharemović are in line to form the back three. It’s a unit that will need to stay compact and disciplined, especially with Forest likely to target the channels and look for quick transitions. Any lapse in concentration, any broken line, and the City Ground will sense blood.
Sebastiaan Bornauw is expected to offer defensive cover from the bench, an option Farke can turn to if Leeds need fresh legs or a tactical tweak late on.
Engine Room Built on Steel and Control
In midfield, Leeds will lean heavily on the partnership of Anton Stach and Ethan Ampadu. The pair are set to anchor the centre of the pitch, charged with both breaking up Forest’s play and dictating tempo when Leeds have the ball.
If they win that battle in the middle, everything else opens up.
Out wide, James Justin on the left and Jayden Bogle on the right will be asked to do the hard yards. They must defend first, track runners, and protect the back three – but when Leeds break, their pace and width will be crucial in stretching Forest and feeding the front line.
Ao Tanaka and Sean Longstaff are likely to start on the bench, waiting as potential game-changers in the second half if Leeds need fresh energy or a different passing angle through midfield.
Calvert-Lewin Leads a Lively Front Three
Up top, Farke is set to unleash a front three designed to hurt Forest from multiple angles.
Harry Wilson should start on the right, drifting inside onto his stronger foot and looking to test the goalkeeper or slide passes into dangerous areas. On the opposite flank, Brenden Aaronson will aim to bring his usual intensity, pressing high and driving at defenders whenever space appears.
Through the middle, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to lead the line. His job is simple on paper, brutal in reality: occupy centre-backs, win duels, and live inside the Nottingham Forest penalty area. If Leeds’ wing-backs and wide forwards can supply him with consistent service, he has the profile to be a constant nuisance.
Leeds arrive with confidence, a clear structure, and a starting XI that looks built to attack. Now the question is whether that 4-0 friendly statement can be backed up when the City Ground noise rises and the points are finally on the line.
