Leeds United picked up their third straight away draw on New Year’s Day after battling to a hard-earned 0–0 stalemate against Liverpool at Anfield.

When Daniel Farke named his starting XI, it was clear the Leeds boss had set his side up to frustrate, and the plan worked perfectly. The Whites restricted the reigning Premier League champions to very few clear-cut chances over the 90 minutes.

The match was not without controversy. Liverpool were denied a penalty after Jaka Bijol appeared to repeatedly pull Hugo Ekitike inside the box, a moment that drew strong criticism from former Reds striker Michael Owen.

However, it was another refereeing call that truly infuriated Leeds supporters — one involving club captain Ethan Ampadu.

Leeds fans react to Ethan Ampadu suspension

Farke himself was unhappy with referee Chris Kavanagh’s performance, admitting after the match that he had to calm himself down.

One decision that particularly angered the German coach was Kavanagh’s choice to book Ampadu for handball. The yellow card was the midfielder’s fifth of the campaign, meaning he will now miss Sunday’s clash with Manchester United due to suspension.

Many watching believed Ampadu controlled the ball with his shoulder rather than his arm, but Kavanagh appeared to bow to pressure from the Anfield crowd and produced the booking regardless.

Leeds fans were quick to vent their frustration on social media. One supporter branded the decision an “absolute disgrace,” insisting the club should be “demanding an explanation and an apology.”

That view was widely shared. Another fan said:
“Ampadu’s yellow card was never a yellow. Ridiculous that he misses the Man United game because of an officiating mistake.”

Others echoed the same sentiment, with one posting:
“Fuming about Ampadu’s handball booking. Now suspended for Sunday against Man United. That’s costly.”

Another added:

Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will both be desperate to get back to winning ways when they meet at Villa Park on Saturday. The Premier League schedule remains relentless, and Gameweek 20 gets underway this weekend as the second half of the season begins.

Both sides enter this fixture looking to bounce back after disappointing recent results. Aston Villa’s impressive winning run came to a halt earlier this week following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. There had already been a growing feeling that their remarkable form masked some underlying issues, and talk of a genuine title push may have been premature. Still, Unai Emery will be keen for his side to respond immediately and reignite their momentum, especially with Villa now six points adrift of Arsenal.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, continue to struggle for consistency. The Tricky Trees suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Everton in midweek, extending their losing streak to three Premier League matches. With West Ham United closing the gap to just four points after their draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, Forest are beginning to glance nervously over their shoulders and will know the importance of picking up results soon.

Last season’s corresponding fixture at Villa Park ended in a 2-1 victory for Aston Villa, with Jota Silva’s late strike proving insufficient to spark a Forest comeback. With another tightly contested encounter expected, here is a closer look at the upcoming clash.

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Team News & Tactics

Aston Villa

Unai Emery has received mixed news on the injury front ahead of Saturday’s match. Aston Villa could be without up to five first-team players when Nottingham Forest visit Villa Park.

There is good news, however, as Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara return after serving suspensions against Arsenal. Emery remains concerned about Amadou Onana, who was forced off with a tight hamstring in North London. Tyrone Mings (thigh), Pau Torres (calf), and Ross Barkley (knee) remain sidelined, while Evann Guessand is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Emiliano Martinez is expected to start in goal, with Villa likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The defensive unit should include Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelof, and Ian Maatsen.

In midfield, Kamara is set to partner Youri Tielemans in the double pivot if Onana is unavailable. Morgan Rogers will operate in the attacking midfield role, flanked by Donyell Malen and John McGinn on the wings. Ollie Watkins will lead the line.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Malen; Watkins

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Nottingham Forest

Sean Dyche has also received some encouraging updates ahead of the trip to the Midlands, although he will still be without several key players.

Ola Aina has recovered from a hamstring injury and is available for selection. Dan Ndoye is nearing a return from a calf problem and will face a late fitness test. However, Ryan Yates (thigh) and Chris Wood (knee) remain unavailable, while Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly are away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.

Forest are expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 system, with John Victor continuing between the posts. The defensive line should consist of Nicolo Savona, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, and Neco Williams.

In midfield, Nicolas Dominguez is likely to partner Elliot Anderson in the double pivot. Morgan Gibbs-White will operate as the playmaker, supported out wide by Omari Hutchinson and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Igor Jesus is expected to start up front.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1):
John Victor; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus

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Key Stats

• Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last six Premier League home matches against Nottingham Forest, winning the most recent five at Villa Park. Their last home defeat to Forest came in October 1994.

• Nottingham Forest have won two of their last four league meetings with Aston Villa, matching the number of victories they recorded across the previous 18 encounters.

• Aston Villa won their first Premier League match of 2025, beating Leicester City 2-1. They have not won their opening league game in consecutive calendar years since 2008 and 2009.

• Nottingham Forest have won their first league match in five of the last seven calendar years, including a 3-0 victory over Wolves in 2025.

• Aston Villa have won ten consecutive home games in all competitions, their longest such run since late 1989.

• Nottingham Forest have failed to score in ten Premier League matches this season — more than any other side. Only Wolves have scored fewer league goals than Forest.

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Player to Watch: Ollie Watkins

Several players could have claimed this spotlight, including Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and in-form Morgan Rogers. However, Ollie Watkins stands out as the key figure to watch.

The England international is beginning to rediscover his scoring touch, netting three goals in his last two Premier League appearances — the same number he managed in his previous 19 games combined. That said, his recent goals have all come away from home, and he has not scored at Villa Park since September against Fulham. Emery will be hoping Watkins can translate his renewed confidence into a decisive home performance.

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Prediction

Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest’s recent record away at Villa Park offers little encouragement, and Sean Dyche has lost his last two visits there by a combined scoreline of 7-2 after going unbeaten in his first three.

Forest are likely to compete aggressively and test Villa throughout the match, with John Victor expected to produce a strong display in goal. Callum Hudson-Odoi could trouble Matty Cash and find the net, threatening to halt Forest’s losing run.

However, Aston Villa’s attacking quality should prove decisive. Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins are tipped to make the difference as Unai Emery’s side grind out a narrow but vital 2-1 victory.

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James Justin and defence shine as resilient Leeds earn hard-fought point

Leeds United secured a valuable away point at Liverpool after a goalless draw that was fully deserved. The first half was largely subdued, although Hugo Ekitike squandered a clear opportunity, while Leeds created little in attack.

Liverpool posed the greater threat after the break, with Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo both going close. Leeds thought they had snatched a dramatic winner when Dominic Calvert-Lewin found the net, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

The visitors stood firm under pressure and, at times, matched Liverpool stride for stride in the second half. Overall, it was a disciplined and commendable performance from Daniel Farke’s side.

Player Ratings

Lucas Perri – Failed to gather a shot cleanly on 12 minutes but dealt well with other efforts. Nearly booked for time-wasting and needed a warning from Ethan Ampadu.
Rating: 7

James Justin – Produced two outstanding blocks to deny Florian Wirtz in the first half. Used the ball well, stood up strongly to Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo, and made several vital headed clearances.
Rating: 8

Sebastiaan Bornauw – Solid on his Premier League debut, aside from one scrappy clearance that he recovered himself. Looked composed in possession and positioned himself intelligently. Came close to registering an assist.
Rating: 8

Jaka Bijol – Dominant in the air and calm throughout. Looked less comfortable when pulled into foot races, though this was rarely exposed. Handled Ekitike far better after the interval.
Rating: 8

Pascal Struijk – Had a few shaky moments against high-quality attackers, with pace not his strongest attribute. However, he dealt with several dangerous situations and finished the game strongly.
Rating: 8

Gabriel Gudmundsson – Won multiple fouls and showed good intent going forward, despite a few loose actions. Delivered a typically reliable display defensively, with some excellent moments in possession.
Rating: 8

Anton Stach – Looked slightly uncomfortable on the right side of midfield. Not poor, but well below his usual energetic standard. Dragged one effort over the bar.
Rating: 6

Ethan Ampadu – Relentless and committed, though spent much of the first half chasing play. Tackled well and led by example. Booked for handball, ruling him out of Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
Rating: 7

Ilia Gruev – Neat and effective in the centre, filling gaps well. Brave in aerial duels and on the ground, keeping his passing simple. Gave the ball away a few times but remained influential.
Rating: 8

Brenden Aaronson – Pressed tirelessly, winning possession and launching counters. Worked hard throughout but had limited impact after the break aside from one late burst.
Rating: 7

Lukas Nmecha – Battled physically with Virgil van Dijk but rarely came out on top. More effective when receiving the ball to feet.
Rating: 6

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Substitutes

Jayden Bogle (83’ for Bornauw) – On too late to be fairly assessed.
Rating: N/A

Ao Tanaka (90’ for Gruev) – Introduced in stoppage time.
Rating: N/A

Noah Okafor (70’ for Aaronson) – Delivered a dangerous low cross late on that Leeds should have capitalised on.
Rating: 7

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (70’ for Nmecha) – Thought he had won it with a clever finish, only for the offside flag to intervene.
Rating: 7

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Manager

Daniel Farke – Set his team up exactly as expected: defensively strong, limited in attack. Substitutions were effective and added energy. Managed the game well while keeping one eye on Sunday, and came close to pulling off a memorable win.
Rating: 8