Leeds United's Predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest: Farke's Bold 3-4-3
Leeds United head to the City Ground on Saturday with purpose, points and a statement in mind.
Daniel Farke’s side arrive in Nottingham on the back of a thumping 4-0 pre-season win over Augsburg, a result that does more than pad confidence. It hints at a team starting to click, with a clear shape and a clear focal point.
Farke’s 3-4-3: bold on the road
Farke is expected to stick with his 3-4-3 system, resisting any temptation to shut up shop away from home. He wants control of the ball and aggression without it. That means a strong XI, not a cautious one.
James Trafford should start in goal, tasked with keeping his composure and, ideally, a clean sheet in what can quickly become a hostile City Ground atmosphere.
In front of him, a back three of Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Tarik Muharemović carries both responsibility and risk. They will need to hold a tight line, stay switched on to runners and win their duels early. If they lose concentration, Nottingham Forest have enough pace and power to punish them. If they get it right, they give Leeds a platform to build from.
Sebastiaan Bornauw offers cover from the bench, an important safety net if the game turns into a scrap or legs begin to tire.
Engine room sets the tone
The real battle, though, will be in midfield.
Anton Stach and Ethan Ampadu are expected to anchor the centre of the pitch, a pairing that blends physical presence with the ability to play through pressure. Their job is simple in theory, brutal in practice: dominate the middle, protect the defence, and feed the front three with quick, accurate passes.
Out wide, James Justin on the left and Jayden Bogle on the right will have to work both ways. They must first respect the defensive side of the role, tracking runners and shutting down Forest’s wide threats, before thinking about bombing on to support attacks. If they get their timing right, Leeds suddenly have five and six players flooding forward. If they get it wrong, the back three are left exposed.
Ao Tanaka and Sean Longstaff are likely to start on the bench, ready-made options if Farke needs fresh legs, more control in possession or an extra runner from deep in the second half.
Wilson, Aaronson and the Calvert-Lewin question
Higher up the pitch, the shape looks clear.
Harry Wilson is set to start off the right, drifting inside onto his stronger foot and looking to test the goalkeeper or slide passes into the box. On the opposite flank, Brenden Aaronson will try to knit things together, pressing aggressively without the ball and offering clever movement between the lines when Leeds attack.
And then there is Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The striker is expected to lead the line for Leeds, the man asked to occupy defenders, bully centre-backs and live inside the Nottingham Forest penalty area. His role is not just about goals, though he will be judged on them. He has to be a constant nuisance, winning aerial duels, holding up play and creating space for Wilson and Aaronson to exploit.
If Calvert-Lewin pins Forest’s defence back, Leeds gain territory and control. If he’s isolated, the entire system starts to sag.
Leeds know what’s at stake: a chance to turn pre-season promise into something tangible, away from home, in the Premier League. Now they need this predicted XI to deliver it.
