Championship high-flyers Leeds United will make the trip to Liberty Stadium to face Swansea City on Tuesday night, hoping to find a route into the automatic promotion places.
Leeds United face Swansea City in the Championship at Liberty Stadium on Tuesday night, as both teams head into the final third of the season. As the Championship campaign heats up at both ends of the table, this encounter is important for both teams in their respective battles to secure maximum points.
After failing to win league matches against Birmingham City, Southampton, Leicester City, and Plymouth Argyle, Swansea City made a crucial return to winning ways over the weekend as they secured a shock 1-0 victory away at top-six hopefuls Hull City, which would have eased some of the pressure on the shoulders of new boss Luke Williams.
Swansea will be desperate to use that performance as a platform to build on. Almost sat in Championship limbo and still battling it out in the bottom half of the table, currently sitting 16th with 36 points, the Swans should be bracing themselves for a stern examination here.
While Leeds were relegated from the Premier League last season, Daniel Farke’s side are determined to return to the top flight right away. The Whites head into the midweek clash looking to pick up a fifth away win on the spin and return to the automatic promotion places.
When the teams last met, Leeds ran out 3-1 winners. The home side came from a goal down after a minute to claim a convincing win through goals from Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter, and Daniel James. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Swansea City
Swansea City continue to deal with several injury issues after veteran Kyle Naughton was pulled off in the final stages against Hull City. But the hosts are hoping the problem is not catastrophic. Harry Darling will likely remain sidelined alongside Liam Walsh, Josh Key, Josh Ginnelly, and Jamal Lowe.
With Harrison Ashby and Key ruled out, centre-back Bashir Humphreys could fill in on the right side of the Swans’ backline. Ben Cabango and Nathan Wood will continue to partner up in the middle of a back four, with Kyle Naughton and Josh Tymon fighting to keep their places at left-back.
After scoring the winning goal last time out, Sam Cullen is set to lead the line for the Welsh outfit once more, likely to be joined by Jamie Paterson and Przemyslaw Placheta in support.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Rushworth; Humphreys, Cabango, Wood, Tymon; Grimes, Fulton, Pereira, Paterson, Placheta; Cullen
Leeds United
With the promotion race hotting up given the form of Leeds Unted and Southampton, with Ipswich Town also competing despite a dip in form, Daniel Farke is expected to field a full-strength starting eleven, with winger Daniel James, Stuart Dallas, and Pascal Struijk set to remain in the treatment room.
In James’s absence, Willy Gnonto is bound to keep his place on the right wing after scoring twice in three games, while Patrick Bamford, Georginio Rutter, and Crysencio Summerville should complete the attacking unit in their 4-2-3-1 formation.
In Struijk’s absence, key midfielder Ethan Ampadu should again deputise alongside Joe Rodon at centre-back, leaving Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev to partner up in the engine room.
Connor Roberts will hope to earn a debut on the right-hand side of the defence after arriving on loan for Burnley, but may have to settle for a place on the bench, with 17-year-old Archie Gray having impressed thus far. Junior Firpo remains the favourite for the left-back slot, with Illan Meslier a mainstay in between the sticks.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara, Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville; Bamford
Key Stats
- Leeds United have won all of their last six Championship games, scoring 13 goals and conceding just one in the process.
- Leeds are unbeaten in four of their last five games against the Swans, claiming three wins and one draw since August 2018.
- Swansea have won just one of their last five Championship matches since mid-January (L3 D1).
- The Whites’ are currently on a run of four consecutive away wins, scoring 11 goals and keeping three clean sheets since the turn of the year.
- Daniel Farke’s side boast the third-most efficient attack in the league with 55 goals scored.
Player to Watch
Crysencio Summerville
Summerville is now showing exactly what he is capable of at this level, as his two goals secured all three points for Leeds United at Elland Road against Rotherham United last time out. Given the level of interest in Summerville’s signature from clubs in the Premier League, Leeds could face a difficult task keeping hold of him this summer if they cannot achieve their goal of promotion from the Championship.
The speedy Dutchman is clearly a class above plenty of teams in the Championship and will be looking to add to his tally of 14 goals and seven assists in the league so far this season.
Prediction
Swansea City 0-3 Leeds United
Although Swansea City were impressive during their 1-0 win over promotion-chasing Hull City on the weekend, the visit of Leeds United will be a much sterner test for the Welsh side. With more quality throughout their squad and plenty of momentum behind them, the Peacocks should fancy their chances to beat Swansea in dominant fashion at Liberty Stadium at the weekend.
