Leeds United turn to debutants to halt opening-day away slump at Forest | OneFootball

Leeds United open at Nottingham Forest seeking to halt a grim record on opening-day away trips and chase a first City Ground win since 2017, with three debutants poised to start.

According to Leeds Live, Daniel Farke's side had a productive pre-season, but Forest under new manager Oliver Glasner should pose a stern test at the City Ground. An away result should not be sniffed at.

James Trafford starts in goal as the new number one. Harry Wilson will wear 10 from a wide role, and it will be a Premier League debut for Tarik Muharemovic. Centre-back Nico Elvedi is not expected to start after joining this week, though he could be on the bench.

For Muharemovic, this is only his second top-flight season, his first coming with Sassuolo in Serie A last term.

Farke plans tweaks rather than change, keeping wing-backs and perhaps being bolder, as hinted by Joe Rodon's forward runs. Leeds will not be at full strength, with Gabriel Gudmundsson out and Noah Okafor not yet fit to start.

A win would ease pressure before the first home game and could set up a winnable run against Brentford, then Brighton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

Leeds have won seven of 16 Premier League openers but only once away, at West Ham United in 1995, and have lost their last four opening-day away matches. Their last two opening-day away trips were to Manchester United in 2021 and Liverpool in 2020. They have never faced Forest on opening day and have only nine wins in 52 visits to the City Ground, with five Premier League goals there.

Leeds have, however, won their last two opening-day fixtures, beating Everton 1-0 last season and Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 in 2022.

Source: Leeds Live

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”