Leeds v Nottingham Forest: Team newspublished at 19:07 GMT 6 February
19:07 GMT 6 February
Boss Daniel Farke makes just one change for Leeds for their crucial game with fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.
The injured Anton Stach drops out with Noah Okafor replacing him.
James Justin is fit to start after a toe injury while Dan James is on the bench after a hamstring injury along with Jaka Bijol, who has been nursing his own hamstring problem.
Lukas Nmecha also returns to the squad but Facundo Buonanotte misses out.
Leeds v Nottingham Forest: Key stats & talking pointspublished at 13:28 GMT 6 February
13:28 GMT 6 February
Noel Sliney BBC Sport senior journalist
The result of this game between two relegation-threatened sides, currently separated only by goals scored, could do much for the mood in both camps. A win for either team on Friday night would open up a nine-point buffer above the relegation zone. Lose, and that gap could be down to three by Saturday evening.
Both sides are in decent form, with Leeds only losing two of their past 11 league games and Nottingham Forest enjoying a season's best four-match unbeaten run.
Leeds upping the ante
Leeds manager Daniel Farke was phlegmatic after his side's first defeat in six home games last weekend, a 4-0 thumping by league leaders Arsenal, and he believes 12 more points will be enough to stay up.
"Three wins and three draws, six positive results from 14 games," he said on Thursday. "I would back my players to get six positive results."
He has every reason to be confident. During their considerable improvement over the past two months, Leeds have beaten Chelsea at Elland Road and held Liverpool, twice, and Manchester United to draws.
Since their change of formation to 3-5-2 from the start of that run, Leeds have significantly increased their work-rate and intensity – which were already high beforehand.
They're covering almost 2km more per game from the beginning of December onwards – for an average of 115.8km – and are closing down their opponents with greater regularity. The Whites rank second in the Premier League for both metrics.
That high tempo is likely to be aided by the enhanced atmosphere at a night match. Leeds have won all four of their Premier League kick-offs at 7.30pm or later this season, with the highlight being a 4-1 thumping of Crystal Palace before Christmas when the energy of the crowd translated into on-pitch dominance.
Farke admits: "I'm a football romantic, I love the atmosphere under the floodlights at Elland Road when everyone is buzzing. The good record is no guarantee but we hope for a very special atmosphere again."
Improving Forest's unwanted record
Nottingham Forest have taken eight points from their past four matches, including consecutive away wins. They came from behind in November's reverse fixture against Leeds to earn a first Premier League victory under head coach Sean Dyche.
It means Forest are looking to complete the league double over Leeds for only the second time in the top flight, after 1995-96.
However, while Forest have the best head-to-head points tally among the current bottom six sides, with 12 points and only one defeat from seven meetings, they hold an unwanted record at Elland Road.
In 25 top-flight fixtures there, Nottingham Forest have never kept a clean sheet. It's the second longest such away streak in top-flight history, behind Birmingham City's run of conceding in all 37 visits to Blackburn Rovers.
Sutton's predictions: Leeds United v Nottingham Forestpublished at 12:30 GMT 6 February
12:30 GMT 6 February
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.
His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.
Sutton says: "I am at this game and we are getting to the stage where it really matters how the teams fighting relegation do in their head-to-head-battles like this.
"I think the bottom two, Wolves and Burnley are down, but you don't know what West Ham will do from here.
"There are signs they may click, so with Leeds and Nottingham Forest both on 26 points, this is big for both of them.
"From a Leeds point of view, their home form has carried them a lot this season.
"They got walloped at Elland Road by Arsenal last weekend but they just have to put that behind them for this game because, as the season has gone on, they have proved that they can be competitive.
"Forest's away form is actually better than their home form - they have picked up 14 points on the road compared to 12 at the City Ground, in the same number of games.
"Sean Dyche's side were comfortable with 10 men against Crystal Palace last time out and they have won their past two away games too, against Brentford and the Hammers. Overall, they are unbeaten in four league games, which is the longest they have gone without losing all season.
"As you can see, I've looked into all the stats for you - but will my research help me get my prediction right? Probably not.
"This is going to be a very tight affair, and Forest won't worry about having much possession, but scoring goals has been a bigger problem for them because they have missed Chris Wood badly - only Wolves have scored fewer than them.
"Forest have brought in 6ft 7in striker Lorenzo Lucca on loan from Napoli to try and fill the gap left by Wood's long-term knee injury but he has not been in great form in Serie A this season.
"So, after a great deal of thought, I am going to back Leeds at home - although now I've said that it will probably end up as a 1-1 draw.
'Manager's dream' Milner nears Premier League recordpublished at 10:48 GMT 6 February
10:48 GMT 6 February
Neil Johnston BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Twenty-four years after making his debut, James Milner, 40, will equal the record for most Premier League appearances if he features for Brighton against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
A stellar career spanning more than two decades, six top-flight clubs, 652 Premier League appearances, 61 England caps, three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League triumph has also delivered some unexpected moments.
Milner is set to go level with Gareth Barry, who played 653 times, at the top of the all-time Premier League appearance list some 8,491 days after making his debut for hometown club Leeds United soon after leaving school in 2002.
Milner was just 16 and earning £70 a week as a YTS player when he broke into the first team at Leeds, six months after taking his GCSE exams.
Milner signed for Newcastle in a deal worth £5m in 2005.
Alan Shearer, who played with Milner at Newcastle, describes him as a model professional and a "manager's dream".
"You would do well if you had him in your squad because you knew exactly what you were going to get," adds former England captain Shearer.
However, a year after signing, Milner was sent out on loan to Premier League rivals Aston Villa, with then Magpies boss Graeme Souness defending his decision at the time saying "you won't win the league with James Milners".
Milner had impressed on loan at Villa so much that in September 2006 they offered around £4m to sign him permanently but Newcastle pulled out of the deal at the 11th hour at the end of the transfer window and he would not get his permanent switch to Villa for another two years.
In 2020 he opted for the challenge of reviving Manchester City's fortunes and left five years later having helped them win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and one Community Shield.
"We won the Premier League together in 2012 but there were times that season when things were not going well," recalls former City defender Micah Richards.
"He was one of the people who kept everyone going."
After 147 top-flight appearances for City, he was ready for his next challenge.
Next stop...Liverpool, where he won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup and the Community Shield.
After Liverpool came an offer from Brighton in 2023 to prolong his top-flight career, where he continues to compete in what is his 24th Premier League season.
Milner became the Premier League's second-oldest goalscorer earlier this season and celebrated by recreating Diogo Jota's celebration in tribute to his former Liverpool team-mate, who died in a car crash last July.
"I've not scored [in the Premier League] for six years and I was wearing his number. Obviously, I've got help from the great man," said an emotional Milner after the match.
Image source, Google
Milner still remembers a conversation with veteran Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn soon after breaking into the first team 24 years ago.
"He told me, 'Enjoy it while you can because it goes so fast'. I said, 'Leave it out, Nige, I'm 16!'
"And here we are in the blink of an eye - and I'm where he was."
Fine margins could help swing Elland Road showdownpublished at 08:19 GMT 6 February
08:19 GMT 6 February
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It could come down to fine margins at Elland Road.
Nottingham Forest travel to Leeds knowing the victors would move nine points clear of the Premier League's relegation zone.
They are level on 26 points, six ahead of West Ham, and on goal different - with 16th placed Leeds holding the slender advantage having scored seven more.
But the winners will hold a commanding lead at least until the Hammers' trip to Burnley on Saturday as Daniel Farke and Sean Dyche look to take a giant leap to safety.
There will be nerves and expectation in equal measure on Friday night and one mistake could make the difference - which is where Leeds have the edge.
The hosts have made the fewest errors leading to a shot [11] in the Premier League this season and no team has made fewer mistakes leading to a goal than Leeds' three - Arsenal, Bournemouth, Manchester City and Manchester United have also made three.
Meanwhile, only Tottenham [28] have made more errors leading to a shot than Forest [27] while only four sides have made more leading to a goal than Forest's six.
Although, despite Leeds' stats, they have the worst save percentage and have conceded seven more goals than expected given the number and quality of chances they have faced.
Only Wolves [+12.4] and Bournemouth [+8] have underperformed their xG by more.
Both teams still tipped for survival
Forest have not been as solid at the back as Leeds - they have given up 20 more shots than this weekend's opponents and only Burnley [48.2] and West Ham [41.1] have given up more xG against in the league
While Leeds have conceded far more than expected [42], Forest have conceded fewer [35], mainly due to Matz Sels in goal although the Belgium international is likely to miss out this evening with a groin injury.
Yet both teams are tipped to stay up ahead of the current bottom three of West Ham, Burnley and Wolves.
The bottom two of Burnley and Wolves are rated to be all but down according to Opta, with West Ham having a 83.3% change of relegation to the Championship.
That is despite only Wolves [15] scoring fewer goals than Forest's 24.
But that is mainly due to Forest not taking their chances - they have had more shots than eight other teams but only Wolves [6.7%] have a worse shot conversion rate than their 8.5%.
Leeds have also struggled to finish their chances with only four teams, including Forest and Wolves, below their 10.4%.
Gossip: Leeds target goalkeeper upgrade published at 08:02 GMT 6 February
08:02 GMT 6 February
Leeds United are reportedly targeting a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window. It is understood Daniel Farke has been underwhelmed by Brazilian signing Lucas Perri, 28, who arrived at Elland Road in July 2025 for £13.9m. (Teamtalk), external
Gossip: Meslier set to leave Elland Road this weekpublished at 07:09 GMT 5 February
07:09 GMT 5 February
Out-of-favour Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier has agreed personal terms for a move to Turkish side Besiktas, with the deal expected to be done in the next 48 hours. (Teamtalk), external
Farke on Stach's fitness, Leeds' transfer strategy and Forestpublished at 14:40 GMT 4 February
14:40 GMT 4 February
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at Elland Road (20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Farke confirmed that Anton Stach will probably miss the next two games with "some hip problems", while Lukas Nmecha has not yet returned to team training. It is "unlikely he will make" Friday, but is "not too far away".
James Justin and Jaka Bijol are back in training and available, while Daniel James is "making progress".
On Leeds' January window: "We have adjusted some details. We let Jack Harrison go out on loan because it was a switch and he wasn't getting much game time. We sent Harry Gray out on loan and so far so good - at the moment exactly what we're looking for, so perfect for him. And we have added with Facundo Buonanotte. We're not weaker and we're potentially stronger."
On Buonanotte: "He is a fantastic young guy with lots of potential. He's not played much football. If you bring him in you can't expect him to straight away come in [and perform]. If you have limited resources, you have to be creative. He has to show good performances."
Asked about how he reacts when the club suggests signings to him during a window, Farke said: "It's important for our recruitment to come up with suggestions and be there with players we could sign, but it's up to me to run the football and also to feel what the group needs. Scouts have a different view and look at the potential of the player and if they are available on the potential side of a deal. It should be the manager who is in charge and feels what the group needs in terms of characters, spirit and profiles of players."
Farke was asked about Leeds not signing a striker after previous interest in Jorgen Strand Larsen: "My responsibility is to speak with our board about potential targets. This is what we have done. I am not the type of manager to think about myself. I need to adapt to the reality of what is possible. If we identify someone who can make us better, it is up to other people if it is affordable."
More on the lack of business: "We have limited resources. I totally accept we have to work with that and be sustainable. I run the sport but I am not the master of finances."
On Forest and Sean Dyche: "Sean has a proven record at Premier League level. He gave lots of stability on Premier League level. His team has lots of quality and qualified for Europe last season. They very often have clean sheets or have conceded just one goal. I expect a tight game where it will be difficult to create chances so we have to be on it. We will need our supporters."
Gossip: Meslier could make move to Besiktaspublished at 08:02 GMT 4 February
08:02 GMT 4 February
Leeds United's French goalkeeper Illan Meslier, 25, could be set for a move away from Elland Road, with Turkish club Besiktas holding talks. (Teamtalk), external
Leeds 'never really wanted to go over £40m' for Strand Larsen - Mokbelpublished at 17:07 GMT 3 February
17:07 GMT 3 February
Image source, PA Media
On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet, Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix were joined by BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel to discuss Leeds' search for a new striker in January.
Jorgen Strand Larsen was a target but he eventually left Wolves to join Crystal Palace in a deal that could be worth up to £48m.
"My understanding all along was that Leeds never really wanted to go over £40m," Mokbel said.
"I think once Crystal Palace came in well above that £40m mark, I always thought it would be difficult for Leeds to come back in."
On why Leeds then did not go elsewhere, Mokbel said: "Recruitment departments in Premier League clubs can be funny beings. If there is a certain signing that doesn't align with their long-term targets, I think they can often not bother with them and want to stick to their long-term plan.
"If Jorgen Strand Larsen, as we're led to believe, was a long-term target, I can kind of understand why they didn't want to sway away from that and stay on the path they're on. The form, aside from the defeat at Arsenal at the weekend, is good.
"I can see the benefits in financially keeping your powder dry but if your form does go south then I think the recruitment staff and the hierarchy there have created a big problem for themselves, because I think it will just be used as a stick to beat them with if your form goes south."
'As a fan, you worry' after quiet January while rivals make additionspublished at 14:57 GMT 3 February
14:57 GMT 3 February
Molly Whitmore Fan writer
Deadline day. Where should we even begin? A failure, really, when you look at the teams around us in the fight to stay up.
Clubs like West Ham and Nottingham Forest are out there signing players. Are they glamorous names? Not always. Some we have barely heard of, others I am more than happy to have missed out on anyway.
But the key point is this: they have made multiple signings to try to give themselves a fighting chance. Us? Just the one.
Now, this is not meant to bash Facundo Buonanotte. From what I have read and heard about him, he is a strong attacking midfielder, creative, energetic and that is always a positive. He could be a good addition.
But he should not have been the only addition. We absolutely should have been looking at a goalkeeper - someone like James Trafford, for example. I know that is a big if, but as I said on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, why did we not at least test the waters? Forest managed to land Stefan Ortega - and if he was once considered good enough for Manchester City, surely he was worth a look from us too?
Then there is Jorgen Strand Larsen. Can someone please explain why we were so stubborn with this one? We knew three or four days ago that Crystal Palace were going to get him, so why were we just sitting around waiting for an overpriced striker that was clearly slipping away? Why did we not explore alternatives?
We are one Dominic Calvert-Lewin injury away from being in serious trouble, and we all know his injury record. We were chatting to Everton fans last Monday and even they could not believe he had not already done his usual six-week stint on the sidelines. Will it come? Let's hope not, because the board have really let us down in that department.
There is not much else to say about this deadline day and that is part of the problem. It is becoming a recurring theme. New owners. Same deadline day. Rubbish.
As a fan, you worry. You really, really worry. Friday night under the lights against Forest has suddenly become our biggest game of the season so far.
Right now, it does not feel like we have had much help. Hopefully that is just the deadline day hangover talking.
🎧 Did Leeds do enough transfer business?published at 13:32 GMT 3 February
13:32 GMT 3 February
The winter transfer window is over.
It closed on Monday, with Leeds failing to get the striker they wanted.
Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix discuss Leeds' transfer business and if the Whites have done enough to avoid relegation on the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.
What fans want on deadline daypublished at 07:36 GMT 2 February
07:36 GMT 2 February
Image source, Getty Images
We asked you what still needs to happen before the transfer window closes at 19:00 GMT on Monday.
Here are some of your comments:
Rob: Need strengthening throughout the team - striker, attacking midfielder, defender - but the priority is a decent goalkeeper. We have been plagued with underperforming and gaffe-prone keepers for the past few seasons.
Andrew: As seems the norm, whoever pulls the strings regarding transfers is missing the obvious with regards to what we need. Simply, a centre-back and a left-back at the moment, or just one, dual-purpose player. Also, how come it takes us an age to move on surplus players? All seems totally unbusinesslike.
Rusfaokss: Maybe try to get Freddie Woodman on loan from Liverpool till the end of the season? Steady and reliable goalkeeper and, at this point, with the goalkeeping issues we're having, it'll be a step up from Karl Darlow and Lucas Perri.
David: I do struggle with my club's strategy. We appear to be desperate to splash out on another striker, but have Mateo Joseph, Joe Gelhardt and Harry Gray out on loan. Daniel Farke has got to start giving youth a chance or we will be forever buying average journeymen.
Michael: One more centre-back would be good, and I think Axel Disasi at Chelsea would be suitable if he was cheap. We are close to needing to change formation if more defenders are injured.
Nick: Decent goalkeeper and another centre-forward, but I don't think we've got the money to do that, so unless we can get some loan signings, we're a bit stuck. Farke sounds like he's a bit frustrated too!
Follow transfer deadline daypublished at 07:01 GMT 2 February
07:01 GMT 2 February
Today is the final chance of the season for your Premier League team to do transfer business.
The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.
It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.
Gossip: Leeds track Real Madrid's Endrickpublished at 06:34 GMT 2 February
06:34 GMT 2 February
Leeds United, Tottenham and Sunderland are monitoring Real Madrid's 19-year-old Brazil forward Endrick, who is impressing on loan at Lyon. (Fichajes), external
Eric: Offered no offensive threat or quality on the ball with our passing and distribution in the first half. With the second half changes we were much more positive but, let's be honest, Arsenal showed up our frailties and it was only ever going to be a loss. However, really BIG game against Nottingham Forest next, we can only have one result in that one or we are back in squeaky bum territory.
Wayne: Not a totally unexpected result but the performance was disappointing. Naive in both boxes and what does Tanaka have to do to get a game?
Andrew: Farke set up wrong - Gudmundsson is not a left centre-back, he's never played there! Too defensive a set-up with Gruev and Ampadu - we gave all the attacking initiative to Arsenal and DCL was isolated again. Didn't expect much from the game and not surprised.
Chris: Never expected Leeds to win but thought we would have put up more of a fight. Not a single Leeds player was of Premier League quality. Farke really needs to stop with the goalkeeper experiment and just leave Perri in -Darlow is a good back-up keeper and that's about as good as he gets.
Arsenal fans
Chris: Madueke was excellent and after all the talk of mental strength and open-play goals - well, there's your talk for the weekend. A positive result that really quickly eases the concerns from the loss to Manchester United.
Steve: Arsenal choking then? In January we played nine, won six, drew two and lost one. Doesn't feel like it to me.
Neo: When I saw Madueke earlier in the season when Saka got injured - I thought he was causing a lot of problems for the opposition down the right-hand side and is great at going round the defender and crossing. I am now more convinced than ever that he should play more often and we should rotate Saka, or try Saka on the left sometimes. Maybe better to rest Saka to get him sharper when he eventually comes on. Bottom line is that Eze and Madueke needs more game time somehow.
Sean: Arsenal have been playing Premier League games with the weight of expectations seemingly holding them back. This could be a big step toward winning the title.
What needs to happen before transfer deadline?published at 09:06 GMT 1 February
09:06 GMT 1 February
It's transfer deadline day tomorrow, with the window closing at 19:00 GMT.
How would you assess Leeds' window? Do you think any position needs more attention? If so, give us names of who should be brought in. And what about who needs to go?
'Level-headed' Farke will be 'moving on quickly' from Gunners defeatpublished at 08:33 GMT 1 February
08:33 GMT 1 February
John Bennett Final Score reporter at Elland Road
Image source, Getty Images
Whenever I've covered Leeds games in the Daniel Farke era and had to interview him post-match, I've always been impressed by the way the German handles setbacks in a calm and composed manner.
It's probably his natural way of doing things, but Farke seems keen to make sure he's level-headed in reaction to defeats.
He said afterwards that it was a "deserved win" for the Gunners and accepted that "the better side won." He also called Arsenal the best team in Europe right now and stressed that it's not a match they should be over analysing.
That was also the message to his players; he told the media they'll be drawing a line under this game and moving on quickly.
Farke also insisted that their "home record speaks for itself" - and you can't argue with that knowing the loss to Arsenal was only their third in the league at Elland Road, which is very positive for a newly promoted side.
So the good news for Farke and Leeds is that they quickly have another home game to try to get over the Arsenal defeat, in what should be another great atmosphere, under the lights, against Nottingham Forest.
Gossip: Leeds offered striker Duranpublished at 07:42 GMT 1 February
07:42 GMT 1 February
Leeds United and Tottenham are among the Premier League clubs to have been offered the opportunity to sign 22-year-old Colombia striker Jhon Duran, who is on loan at Fenerbahce from Al-Nassr. (Teamtalk), external
