Nottingham Forest take on Leeds United in bottom-placed clash.
Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds United kicks off at 14:00 [GMT] on Sunday, November 9, at City Ground.
Two historic clubs find themselves under pressure for very different reasons as Nottingham Forest host Leeds United in what could be a defining clash at City Ground. Forest are still chasing their first league win in over two months, while Leeds are looking to steady their away form after an inconsistent start under Daniel Farke. Nottingham Forest’s home record against Leeds offers encouragement. They are unbeaten in their last 13 top-flight home meetings with the Whites (W6 D7), a run stretching back to 1971. However, their current form is a growing concern. Sean Dyche’s men – though they picked up a 2-2 draw with Manchester United last time out – have gone nine Premier League matches without victory (D3 L6), their longest barren spell since an 11-game run in early 2023 — a stretch that also included a defeat to Leeds. Defensive frailty remains the major issue. Forest have failed to keep a clean sheet in 18 consecutive league games, and this is just the second time in their top-flight history they’ve gone their first ten matches of a season without shutting out an opponent. Going forward, Morgan Gibbs-White remains Forest’s key creative spark, having been involved in 45 Premier League goals for the club—more than any other player in their history. The 25-year-old will be hoping to find the back of the net once again here. Meanwhile, a 4—2—3—1 formation with Igor Jesus in attack is expected for the 19th-placed side.
Newly promoted Leeds are also not far ahead in 16th place, having earned just one victory in their last five games [DLLWL]. The Whites were picked apart in a 3-0 loss to Brighton last time out and are hoping to bounce back. However, away from home, they’ve conceded first in all five Premier League matches this season, losing four of those. Historically, that’s a terrible omen — they’ve lost 16 of their last 17 top-flight away games when conceding first. Their defensive frailties were exposed in the 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Matchday 10, when they faced an xG of 3.07 and seven shots on target, both highs under Farke. Leeds claimed a 2-1 victory when these sides last met in the Premier League in April 2023 — and they’ll be aiming to record back-to-back top-flight wins against Forest for the first time since the 1970s. Noah Okafor has been one of the few bright attacking outlets, averaging 7.5 dribbles per 90 minutes, the third-highest rate in the league this season. The former AC Milan player will team up with Brenden Aaronson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin when Leeds appear with the 4—3—3 formation.