Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 9 November 2025

We’ve got a rather intriguing clash in the Premier League on 9 November 2025 as Nottingham Forest take on Leeds at the City Ground, Nottingham. Kicking off at 14:00, this matchup is crucial for both sides. Nottingham Forest are currently 19th in the league with 6 points, under the leadership of Sean Dyche, who will be desperate to turn their season around. Leeds, sitting in 16th position with 11 points, aren’t in a comfortable spot either and need to gather momentum.
Forest are the bookmaker’s favourites with odds of 2.23, and rightfully so. They’ve shown resilience at home, particularly in the recent draw against Manchester United, and have managed to keep two clean sheets in their last five games. Leeds, on the other hand, have been inconsistent away from home and have struggled defensively, conceding heavily in the last 15 minutes of matches.
Expect a gritty encounter, where the home side is likely to edge it. Our match tips recommend betting on a Nottingham Forest win. The weather, referee Jarred Gillett’s relatively lenient card history, and key injuries to both teams can massively impact the game’s outcome.
Let’s see how it all unfolds!

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds Prediction & Betting tip

• Nottingham Forest showed strength at home with a recent 2-2 draw against Manchester United, proving they can compete against tough teams.
• Sean Dyche’s arrival as manager brings fresh energy and a desperate need to turn the season around, making a home win more likely.
• Leeds have struggled with defensive consistency, conceding heavily in the last crucial minutes of the match, which could be exploited by Forest.
  Betting on Nottingham Forest to win seems like a solid choice given their home advantage, recent managerial changes, and Leeds’ defensive vulnerabilities. This fixture should be a gritty and competitive match, but the home side seems poised to edge out a victory.

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds Odds

As we look ahead to the Premier League matchup between Nottingham Forest and Leeds, the odds are painting a clear picture of where the bookmakers place their confidence. With Nottingham Forest being the bookmakers’ favourites at odds of 2.23, there’s a slight but notable edge in their favour despite their current position in the standings.

These odds reflect the anticipation of a close match, but with a potential advantage for Forest, especially given their recent spirited draw against Manchester United and solid home performances. Leeds, having struggled defensively, especially in the latter stages of games, face a tough challenge. The odds for a draw at 3.32 and a Leeds win at 3.29 illustrate just how competitive and unpredictable this clash could be.
Expect a tight contest, but the betting tip favours a home win for Nottingham Forest.

Nottingham Forest Team Analysis

Nottingham Forest Recent Performance

Recent Form: Nottingham Forest have had a mixed set of results in their last five matches, with their form abbreviation reading LWLDD.
Nottingham Forest have struggled to find consistent form this season, reflected in their 19th position with just 6 points. Their recent fixtures saw them draw 0-0 with Sturm Graz and 2-2 with Manchester United, highlighting some defensive resilience with two clean sheets in the last five games. Their average goals scored in these games stand at 0.80, indicating scoring is still an area of improvement. Despite battling injuries to key players, the team has shown glimpses of potential and spirit, especially in tough fixtures like pulling off a solid draw against Manchester United. This combination of resilience and sporadic offensive output underscores the importance of turning these signs into concrete results to climb up the standings. Consistency will be crucial if they are to improve their league position moving forward.

Nottingham Forest Key Players

Nottingham Forest will rely heavily on key players to make a significant impact in their upcoming match against Leeds. With Chris Wood sidelined due to a knee injury, the spotlight falls on Morgan Gibbs-White and Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga to drive the attack. Gibbs-White has been instrumental in providing creative spark in the midfield and will be crucial in linking play.
Ryan Yates and Ibrahim Sangaré will anchor the midfield, bringing stability and tenacity against a dynamic Leeds side. In defense, Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo will be tasked with keeping Leeds’ attackers at bay, especially the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Expected lineup for Nottingham Forest:

• Goalkeeper: Matz Sels
• Defenders: Nicolo Savona, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams
• Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Ryan Yates, Dan Ndoye, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi
• Forward: Igor Jesus
  Their ability to perform in these key roles could very well determine the outcome of this crucial match.

Nottingham Forest Suspensions & Injuries

Nottingham Forest are dealing with a raft of injuries that could significantly impact their performance against Leeds. Key player Chris Wood is out with a knee injury, sidelining him until late November, which means the team will miss his goal-scoring prowess. Also missing are Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz, both of whom are crucial in providing stability and creativity in midfield.
Ola Aina and Dilane Bakwa will be absent too, with injuries keeping them on the sidelines. Additionally, goalkeeper Angus Gunn is out for the season due to a cruciate ligament injury, putting pressure on the backup, Matz Sels. Callum Hudson-Odoi’s availability is also doubtful due to a knock, affecting Forest’s attacking options on the wings.
These injuries could potentially disrupt the team’s balance and cohesion, making their quest for a much-needed victory even more challenging.

Nottingham Forest Tactics and Formation

Nottingham Forest Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Forward: Igor Jesus
• Midfield Support: Elliot Anderson, Ryan Yates
• Defensive Setup: A balanced backline with Nicolo Savona and Murillo at the heart.
• Notable Strategy: Strong attacking play during the 46-60 minute interval, exploiting Leeds’ known weakness in this period.

Sean Dyche is likely to stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation that has shown resilience recently. This setup allows for solid defensive cover while providing attacking flexibility. The dual defensive midfielders, Elliot Anderson and Ryan Yates, will be crucial in breaking up Leeds’ play and initiating counters.
Morgan Gibbs-White will play an essential role in creating opportunities from the attacking midfield position, supporting Igor Jesus upfront. The focus will likely be on quick transitions and exploiting Leeds’ defensive lapses, particularly in the latter stages of each half.
Given Forest’s tactical discipline and Leeds’ defensive inconsistencies, this match could hinge on how well Forest execute their game plan.

Leeds Team Analysis

Leeds Recent Performance

Recent Form: Leeds have also experienced inconsistency, reflected in their form abbreviation of DLLWL.
Leeds currently sit in 16th position with 11 points, struggling to find any sort of rhythm as they head into this crucial match against Nottingham Forest. Their last five fixtures have been a mixed bag, including a deflating 3-0 loss to Brighton and an encouraging 2-1 win over West Ham.
Leeds’ average goals scored in the last five games is 1.00, and they have not managed to keep a single clean sheet during this period. Defensively, their vulnerabilities have been stark, particularly in the final 30 minutes of matches where they tend to concede heavily.
With their current defensive struggles and inconsistency, Leeds will need to put in a much-improved performance if they hope to secure any points from this fixture.

Leeds Key Players

Leeds will look to their key players to deliver a top performance against Nottingham Forest. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, expected to lead the attack, will be pivotal in trying to break down Forest’s defense. Midfield dynamo Ethan Ampadu will also play a crucial role in providing balance and breaking up the opponent’s play.
Noah Okafor, the club’s joint top scorer with 2 goals, will be a threat on the left flank, using his pace and dribbling to trouble the Forest defenders. Additionally, Brenden Aaronson’s creative spark on the right side will be essential in providing service to Calvert-Lewin.
Expected lineup for Leeds:

• Goalkeeper: Lucas Perri
• Defenders: Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson
• Midfielders: Sean Longstaff, Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka
• Forwards: Brenden Aaronson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Noah Okafor
  These key players will need to be at their best to secure a positive result.

Leeds Suspensions & Injuries

Leeds enter this match against Nottingham Forest with minimal injury concerns but will be missing a key player. Wilfried Gnonto, sidelined due to a calf injury, is doubtful for this fixture, which could limit their attacking options. Gnonto’s pace and creativity would have added an extra dimension to Leeds’ forward play.
While no other suspensions are affecting the team, the absence of Gnonto may force Daniel Farke to tweak his tactical approach and line-up. Nonetheless, Leeds will need to adapt quickly to cover for this loss and maintain their competitiveness in this crucial clash.

Leeds Tactics and Formation

Leeds Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
• Midfield Trio: Sean Longstaff, Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka
• Defensive Setup: Consists of Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, and Gabriel Gudmundsson.

Daniel Farke is expected to stick with his preferred 4-3-3 formation, focusing on fluid transitions and high pressing. Calvert-Lewin will lead the line, supported by Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor, who will aim to exploit spaces left by Nottingham Forest’s defense.
The midfield trio of Longstaff, Ampadu, and Tanaka will need to be industrious, breaking up play and facilitating transitions. Defensively, Leeds have struggled, especially in the latter stages of matches, conceding goals during crucial periods.
To counter Forest’s strengths, Leeds might adopt a compact defensive shape, ensuring they remain solid at the back while being quick to counter-attack. Adaptability and concentration in the latter stages will be key for them to secure any points from this fixture.

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds Head-to-Head Statistics

Looking at the head-to-head record between Nottingham Forest and Leeds, we notice some interesting patterns. Both teams have faced each other multiple times in recent years, with the last five encounters producing a mixed bag of results:

• 4 April 2023: Leeds United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
• 5 February 2023: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United
• 8 February 2020: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Leeds United
• 10 August 2019: Leeds United 1-1 Nottingham Forest
• 1 January 2019: Nottingham Forest 4-2 Leeds United

Nottingham Forest seems to have the upper hand overall, winning three out of the last five matches. Their most recent win came at home with a 1-0 result in February 2023. Interestingly, they also secured a clean sheet in two of those five encounters.
These stats suggest a competitive clash, but Nottingham Forest’s recent dominance at home could give them the psychological edge. Given the current form of both teams, this history adds an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming fixture.

Odds accurate as of 11.07.2025 14:01, and are subject to change.
Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.