Leeds United's Bold 3-4-3 Plan Against Nottingham Forest
Leeds United head to the City Ground on Saturday with momentum in their sails and a clear plan in Daniel Farke’s mind. A 4-0 dismantling of Augsburg in pre-season has sharpened belief, and the Leeds manager is expected to double down on that template against Nottingham Forest.
He is set to stick with a bold 3-4-3, a shape that demands bravery on the ball and discipline without it. The message is simple: take control, take risks, and take three points.
Back three built to be stubborn
James Trafford is expected to keep his place in goal, charged with protecting a clean sheet in one of the Premier League’s more unforgiving away grounds. In front of him, Farke is likely to trust a settled back three of Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Tarik Muharemović.
It’s a unit that will need to stay compact and aggressive. Rodon’s reading of the game, Bijol’s physical presence and Muharemović’s mobility must knit together, or Forest’s forwards will find gaps. Any lapse in shape, and the City Ground crowd will sense blood.
Sebastiaan Bornauw is set to provide defensive cover from the bench, ready to step in if Leeds need fresh legs or a reshuffle late on.
Engine room with bite and balance
In midfield, Leeds will lean heavily on the partnership of Anton Stach and Ethan Ampadu. They are expected to anchor the side, set the tempo and, crucially, win the battle in the middle of the pitch.
Stach offers height, passing range and calm under pressure. Ampadu brings tenacity and positional intelligence. Together, they give Leeds a platform to both protect the back three and spring attacks quickly.
Out wide, James Justin on the left and Jayden Bogle on the right will have to run relentlessly. Their job is twofold: lock down the flanks defensively, then surge forward to support the front line. If they get their timing right, Leeds can overload Forest in wide areas. If they get it wrong, the back three could be exposed.
Ao Tanaka and Sean Longstaff are expected to wait in reserve, options for Farke if he needs extra energy, control or a different passing profile in the second half.
Calvert-Lewin leads an ambitious front three
Up front, Farke is set to hand the central role to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. His task is clear: occupy the Forest centre-backs, bully them when possible, and live inside the penalty area. If Leeds’ wing-backs and midfielders deliver quality into the box, Calvert-Lewin has the instincts to punish any hesitation.
Either side of him, Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson offer contrasting but complementary threats. Wilson, expected to start on the right, will look to drift inside, find pockets of space and test the goalkeeper whenever the angle opens up. Aaronson, on the left, brings energy, pressing and sharp movement between the lines.
If this front three clicks, Forest’s defence will have to deal with constant movement and a steady stream of crosses and cut-backs.
Predicted Leeds United XI (3-4-3)
- Goalkeeper: James Trafford
- Defence: Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Tarik Muharemović
- Midfield: Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, James Justin
- Attack: Harry Wilson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson
Leeds arrive with confidence, a clear structure and a centre-forward desperate to be a nuisance in the box. Now the question is simple: can this aggressive 3-4-3 turn promise into points at one of the league’s most hostile venues?
