Out of all the Premier League fixtures across February, Friday's game looks the most winnable on paper for Leeds United
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
06:00, 05 Feb 2026
Leeds United need to beat Nottingham Forest for more than one reason
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Leeds United need to beat Nottingham Forest for more than one reason(Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Leeds United need to beat Nottingham Forest as much for the mood around the club as the carrot of extending their lead away from the bottom three.
Of course, a win would take them - at least temporarily - nine points clear of the drop zone, with West Ham United due to take on Burnley at Turf Moor a day later. The psychological impact that would have would be significant.
They can also keep Forest down there while boosting their own relegation prospects. But there is also an air of angst following a quiet transfer window, in which only one January signing was made.
Even a draw would only feed the nerves. Whatever happens, Leeds must not lose, but it is essentially a must-win.
Goalkeeper watch
The goalkeeper will be, not for the first time, spotlighted throughout the game, given Karl Darlow’s shaky performance against Arsenal. If there is a time to be wobbly, it is against a team you would probably lose to anyway. Better then than now.
However, Daniel Farke’s post-game comments infer that he is not entirely satisfied with his goalkeeping options. “Our board knows my feelings on what I think we should do this window,” he said while stopping short of expressing what his ‘honest’ feelings were.
That hardly inspires confidence, but for Darlow’s sake and perhaps his future as a top-flight goalkeeper in the long term, he needs to respond when it matters most, as he did when he came in during last season’s run-in.
James back in the squad?
Daniel James could make the squad for the first time since injuring his hamstring back in November, albeit Farke has outlined that he will need time to get back up to speed.
The boss has also outlined how he must also fight for his place in the matchday squad with Leeds doing well amid his absence. Jack Harrison may have gone but Facundo Buonanotte is a more firece competitior for his bench spot than Harrison ever was.
But with Anton Stach and Lukas Nmecha set to miss Friday's match, James could get the nod. Another question to pose is how he fits into this new 3-5-2 system - it was after his injury at Manchester City that the formation switch was made.
A second striker? A wing-back? Only time and perhaps injuries to others will ultimately tell.
Elland Road atmosphere
Circling back to the first point, the fans can - and will do - their bit to help spur on their lads, despite the nerves. Even at 4-0 down against Arsenal, they were singing, even if it was slightly tongue-in-cheek. But these players and the manager have the match-goers on side.
Farke has described the stadium as the club’s “fortress” and Mikel Arteta waxed lyrical about the “beautiful” atmosphere on Saturday, him hardly being the first opposition manager to dish out such superlatives.
Under the lights at a packed Elland Road on a Friday night? If Leeds can’t win a relegation crunch clash under these circumstances, then when can they?
They’ve shown it before against West Ham and you can be certain the atmosphere on Friday will be electric.
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