Leeds United will be keen to close the gap to Sunderland when they take on Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
Leeds United will host Plymouth Argyle at Elland Road on Saturday, with both teams eager to secure valuable points in their respective EFL Championship battles. Leeds, who are eyeing automatic promotion, sit in third place with 23 points, trailing second-placed Burnley only on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Plymouth Argyle, managed by Wayne Rooney, find themselves just one point above the relegation zone in 21st place. After a recent string of draws, both teams are keen to get back to winning ways, but the stakes are higher for Leeds as they look to strengthen their position in the promotion race.
Under the management of Daniel Farke, Leeds have been in impressive form this season, especially at Elland Road, where they have won three consecutive matches. Since their only defeat to Burnley in mid-September, the Whites have gone on a seven-match unbeaten run in the league, collecting 15 points in the process. Their recent results have shown their growing confidence and resilience.
The 2-0 win over Sheffield United and the hard-fought 2-1 victory against Watford demonstrated Leeds’s ability to dominate at home, while a goalless draw with Bristol City last weekend left them just shy of climbing into the top two. With an opportunity to extend their home winning streak and potentially overtake Burnley if results go their way, Leeds are expected to approach this fixture with a sense of urgency and purpose.
On the other side, Plymouth Argyle are struggling to find consistency in the Championship. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, they once again face the prospect of a relegation battle, with just 12 points from their opening 12 games. While they have managed three wins at Home Park, their away form has been dismal, with only one point from six away games.
Their struggles on the road are largely due to a leaky defence that has conceded 13 goals in away fixtures, coupled with a lack of firepower, managing just one goal away from home. However, Plymouth’s recent 3-3 comeback draw against Preston North End, in which they rallied from three goals down, showcased their fighting spirit and resilience.
While their defensive vulnerabilities remain a concern, the Pilgrims will hope to build on the momentum of that comeback as they head into Saturday’s challenging encounter at Elland Road. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Leeds United
Leeds United will be without right-back Jayden Bogle this weekend, as he is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards, with his latest coming against Bristol City. However, Junior Firpo is set to return to the lineup after serving his own suspension, taking up the left-back position and allowing Sam Byram to switch over to cover Bogle’s absence on the right.
Manager Daniel Farke is also dealing with a range of injuries, as midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev remain unavailable along with defender Max Wober and winger Largie Ramazani. Additionally, forwards Daniel James, Joe Gelhardt, and Patrick Bamford are fresh doubts for the weekend clash.
In light of these absences, Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell are expected to pair up in the midfield to provide stability. In attack, Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph will be vying for the role as the central striker, supported by a dynamic trio of Willy Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson, and Manor Solomon in advanced positions.
The anticipated lineup for Leeds United in a 4-2-3-1 formation is as follows: Illan Meslier will start in goal, with Sam Byram at right-back, Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk in central defence, and Junior Firpo taking the left-back role. Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell will form the central midfield partnership. In the attacking midfield, Wilfried Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson, and Manor Solomon will support the lone forward, likely to be Mateo Joseph.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Byram, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Tanaka, Rothwell; Gnonto, Aaronson, Solomon; Joseph
Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle will head to Elland Road with a number of absentees. Ibrahim Cissoko is suspended for the clash, and the Pilgrims will also be without goalkeeper Conor Hazard and defenders Brendan Galloway, Lewis Gibson, and Joe Edwards due to injuries. This has led to some adjustments in the lineup as they look to field a competitive side against a strong Leeds United team.
Andre Gray, who scored off the bench in the 3-3 draw with Preston North End, could be in line for his first start, adding experience to the frontline. Freddie Issaka and Morgan Whittaker are expected to retain their places on the wings, with Whittaker looking to add to his three league goals this season, having scored an impressive 19 goals in the previous campaign.
As for the midfield unit, Darko Gyabi, a recent signing from Leeds United, could feature against his former club, alongside either Adam Randell or Adam Forshaw, who made 91 appearances for Leeds United between 2018 and 2023.
The probable lineup for Plymouth Argyle in a 4-2-3-1 formation includes Daniel Grimshaw in goal. The back four is likely to consist of Julio Pleguezuelo at right-back, Kornel Szucs and Victor Palsson as the central defensive duo and Bali Mumba at left-back.
In central midfield, Adam Forshaw and Adam Randell are expected to provide support, with Morgan Whittaker on the right wing, Rami Al-Hajj in the central attacking midfield role, and Freddie Issaka on the left wing. Up front, Ryan Hardie is likely to lead the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Grimshaw; Pleguezuelo, Szucs, Palsson, Mumba; Forshaw, Randell; Whittaker, Al Hajj, Issaka; Hardie
Key Stats
- Leeds United are unbeaten in their last ten league games against Plymouth Argyle, winning eight and drawing two.
- Plymouth Argyle have won just one of their 20 league visits to Elland Road to face Leeds (D6 L13), with their only victory coming in February 1962 in a 3-2 match.
- Leeds are on a seven-game unbeaten run in the league (W4 D3) and have kept seven clean sheets in the Championship this season, with only Sheffield United (8) having more.
- Plymouth have struggled away from home, failing to win any of their last eight away league games (D1 L7) and scoring just one goal during that period.
- Leeds rank third in high turnovers in the Championship this season (88), just behind Sheffield Wednesday (94) and Stoke City (89). Plymouth, however, have faced the most turnovers (109) without conceding from one.
Player to Watch
Wilfried Gnonto
The Italian has been a key contributor for Leeds United this season, bringing energy and creativity to their attack. Known for his dribbling skills and quick turns, Gnonto’s ability to beat defenders and create opportunities has been crucial to Leeds’s recent success. With three assists in his last two away league matches, he has shown his knack for making decisive contributions in critical moments.
As Leeds look to secure another victory at Elland Road, Gnonto’s flair on the wings and his link-up play could prove to be a handful for Plymouth Argyle’s defence. Expect him to be at the heart of Leeds’s offensive efforts on Saturday.
Prediction
Leeds United 3-1 Plymouth Argyle
Leeds should have enough firepower to break down Plymouth’s defence, and while the visitors may manage a goal, Leeds United’s superior quality and recent form should see them through comfortably. This fixture could further bolster Leeds’s promotion push, while Plymouth will need to regroup quickly as they continue their battle to climb away from the relegation zone.
