The bookies' early prediction for Leeds United's first game of the new Premier League season at Nottingham Forest.

Leeds United will begin their second season back in the Premier League with a trip to Nottingham Forest - and the bookies have formed a strong early view on how they see it going.

Leeds requested an away day opener for the new campaign to give them more time for their West Stand development and the Whites were given an opening weekend trip to the City Ground to face Forest.

Forest endured a troubled 2025-26 season in which they were threatened with relegation before ultimately finishing in 16th place, five points clear of third-bottom West Ham but two positions and three points behind newly-promoted Leeds in 14th.

The bookies, though, think that Forest will start the new season with an opening weekend win against Daniel Farke's Whites who can be backed at 9-4 against the solid favourite hosts.

Bigger picture backing for both teams

Forest - who made it all the way to the Europa League final in which they were beaten by Aston Villa - are as short as 11-10 to beat Leeds in the early match markets whilst the draw is on offer at 13-5.

Both teams, though, are expected to comfortably survive the 2026-27 campaign which Leeds and Forest very similar odds to be relegated.

Last season's Championship play-off winners Hull City are strong odds-on favourites to go down at 2-7 and fellow new boys Coventry City (4-6) and Ipswich Town (8-11) are also odd- on for the drop.

Despite last season's seventh-placed finish on their Premier League return, Sunderland are next at 11-4 followed by Fulham, Leeds and Crystal Palace who are all 6s, just ahead of Forest at 13-2.