On Friday, February 6, 2026, at Elland Road, Leeds United against Nottingham Forest in a Premier League clash, the two clubs might need to win in order to survive as well as the fight.
The two teams are separated by a goal difference with both having scored 26 points after 24 games and they are looking over their shoulders as the battle against relegation keeps on getting tougher. This game has the burden of a typical six-pointer with only six points between them and the bottom three.
Match Details
- Competition: Premier League
- Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
- Kick-off: 8:00pm (UK)
- Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United: Good Stride, Yet Scarcely Victories.
Being one of the newly promoted teams, Leeds United went into the 2025/26 season, with many suggesting that it will not be a successful season. Consistency has been an elusive trait but the side of Daniel Farke has demonstrated remarkable strength.
Former Leeds suffered an early hard run after a long opening-day victory over Everton, picking up only two more win in 12 consecutive league matches. Nonetheless, a win, 31, over Chelsea in December was a turning point.
Thereafter Leeds have only lost two of their past 11 games in the Premier league and they have risen to the 16 th position with a six-point lead above the relegation zone. The issue, though, has been converting good performances into victory — draws have been the order of the day.
Such a feeling came to the fore again last weekend, with Leeds being massacred 4-0 by title-challengers Arsenal, which not only halted the momentum but also pointed to the difficulty of competing against the elite teams.
Their most significant weapon is Elland Road. Leeds are yet to lose more than three home league matches in the entire season with the sole losses being to Tottenham, Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Nottingham Forest: Stability, Recovery, and Chaos of Dyche.
The season of Nottingham Forest has not been smooth sailing.
After finishing in a stunning seventh position in 2024/25, there were high expectations. Yet the unsteadiness destroyed their early campaign and the change of the managers came in between. Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked, Ange Postecoglou suffered a catastrophic tenure and finally, the position was given to Sean Dyche so that the ship could be on course.
The contribution of Dyche has been great. The team had a rocky spell towards the turn of the year but have since recorded four unbeaten league matches with two wins and two draws. That run has seen them in the 17 th position at the same level with Leeds, only differentiated by goal difference.
Forest had also displayed their caliber in the same match, when they beat Leeds 31 at the City Ground and they will go to Yorkshire with a belief that they can make trouble there again.
But it is not a happy haunt, and Forest have never won a match at Elland Road, even in the five visits they have been there.
Head-to-Head Overview
Previous match: Nottingham Forest 31 Leeds United.
Previous 6 H2H games Forest 4-0-1, Leeds 1-0-0.
Forest have made a five visit winless visit to Elland Road.
Team News
Leeds United
Daniel Farke does not have many injury issues, though he can still keep the essence of his team:
Out:
Jaka Bijol (hamstring)
Daniel James (hamstring)
Lukas Nmecha (thigh)
The defeat to Arsenal was very heavy but Leeds are expected to continue with their three-at-the-back system that has earned stability in the recent months.
Nottingham Forest
Marching through the woods with a wasted army:
Out injured:
John Victor
Matz Sels
Nicolo Savona
Chris Wood
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Suspended:
Neco Williams
January signing Stefan Ortega may be making his league debut in goal.
Predicted Lineups
Leeds United (3-4-2-1)
Darlow; Bornauw, Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Gruev, Justin; Stach, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1)
Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Igor Jesus
Tactical Preview
Leeds will be able to dominate space and time by employing width by their wing-backs, and physical presence by Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Their greatest hurdle is still efficiency at the third stage.
Under Dyche Forest are likely to be in a compact form, more focused on defensive transitions making them defensive. Morgan Gibbs-White will be instrumental in the middle and Sangarare will be the central figure in the middle.
The early part might demand more caution than ambition, given the point requirement by both teams.
Key Stats
Leeds have attracted 8 premier league games in this season.
The 8 draw games of Leeds had fewer than 2.5 goals.
Forest has not won in 4 consecutive league matches.
The two teams have both scored in 8 out of the 10 home games of Leeds.
Match Prediction
It is a match with the trappings of a close-run, low-goal game given Leeds powerful at home and Forest hard to crack. Either party can not afford to lose and such a warning can eventually nullify the aggressor motive.
Prediction: Leeds United 1-1 Nottingham Forest