Leeds United kicked off their 2026/27 Premier League campaign in sensational style over the weekend, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Thanks to Anton Stach’s brilliant late free-kick, Daniel Farke’s men silenced the home crowd and put to bed any lingering concerns about their away form from last season.
However, there is no time for the Whites to rest on their laurels. The two fierce rivals are set to lock horns once again at the City Ground on Tuesday night, this time for a high-stakes EFL Cup second-round showdown.
As anticipation builds for the quickfire rematch, the EFL has officially confirmed the matchday officials, while Farke prepares to shake up his starting XI.
EFL Confirm Match Officials for City Ground Showdown
The English Football League has announced that experienced referee Andrew Kitchen will take charge of Tuesday night’s cup tie in Nottingham.
Kitchen will be assisted on the touchlines by Mark Stevens and Alex James, while Stephen Parkinson has been named as the fourth official. Notably, VAR will not be in use at this early stage of the EFL Cup competition.
Kitchen enters the fixture having already overseen two matches in the Championship this season, including the fiery London encounter between West Ham and Charlton. For Leeds supporters, Kitchen is a relatively familiar face, having only refereed the Yorkshire club twice previously in competitive fixtures:
- Huddersfield Town (2023/24): A tightly contested Championship trip that ended in a stalemate.
- Middlesbrough (2024/25): A crucial away day where an early goal from Daniel James secured a vital three points during Leeds’ promotion push.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, have only crossed paths with Kitchen once before—an FA Cup tie against Exeter City in February 2025 that the Reds eventually scraped through on penalties.
Daniel Farke Expected to Ring the Changes
With a grueling Premier League schedule ahead and less than 72 hours separating Saturday’s league match from Tuesday’s cup tie, Leeds manager Daniel Farke is widely expected to heavily rotate his squad.
While Farke will want to maintain winning momentum and keep the squad sharp, the midweek fixture presents an ideal opportunity to hand vital minutes to fringe players and squad members who missed out on the opening weekend.
Midfielders Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka are heavily tipped to come into the starting lineup to inject fresh energy into the center of the pitch. Meanwhile, dynamic forward Wilfried Gnonto—who is currently sidelined from immediate league action—is expected to be handed a golden opportunity to impress and stake his claim in the cup competition.
In defense, recent signing Nico Elvedi is in line to make his full debut for the Whites. Elvedi made a brief cameo appearance off the bench during Saturday’s league win over Forest, and Tuesday night’s cup clash provides the perfect platform for the defender to get his first start under Farke.
What to Expect on Tuesday Night
While Forest will be desperate for immediate revenge after having their hearts broken by Stach’s late winner on opening weekend, Farke’s rotation strategy will test the true depth of the Leeds squad.
With a passionate crowd expected back at the City Ground and a spot in the next round of the cup up for grabs, Tuesday night’s rematch promises to be another fiercely contested chapter in this developing early-season rivalry!
