Leeds United will be keen to make a statement as Leicester City will want to put their shock loss to Middlesbrough behind them.
The top-of-the-table clash in the EFL Championship this Friday will see leaders Leicester City travel to Elland Road to take on second-placed Leeds United.
Enzo Maresca’s men held a 17-point lead at the top of the table a little over a month ago. However, a spate of poor results has seen them cede ground, a chasm that could be as little as six points should Daniel Farke and Co. prevail on the night.
Leeds United are arguably the in-form side in the Championship and are currently on an eight-game winning run in the second tier. This sees the Elland Road outfit occupy the second spot, something that can secure them automatic promotion come the end of the current campaign
The Whites are hitting form at the right time, and a win on the night will more than help them hold onto the second spot. Leicester City have lost their aura of invincibility of late, and a Leeds triumph will only further drive home that point.
Adding to the Foxes’ woes is Leeds’s form at Elland Road. The Whites are the lone Championship side yet to lose a home game in the league this season and given their current run of form, it is difficult to see that record come to an end on Friday night.
Ipswich Town and Southampton are well-placed to take any advantage should Leeds slip up. With a win in the playoffs far from certain, the Yorkshire giants will be keen to avoid surrendering second spot. Several games are yet to come, and Leicester, too, could find themselves sweating should their lead at the summit whittle down to a mere six points.
The game has huge implications for both clubs as they plot a quick return to the top flight. The Championship title appeared done and dusted merely a month ago. Leeds could now blow the race wide open. The hosts already got the better of the Foxes once this season, winning the reverse fixture 1-0 earlier in the campaign. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Leeds United
The Yorkshire side have been in stellar form since the turn of the year and are the in-form team in the EFL Championship this calendar year. Daniel Farke has made Elland Road into a fortress of sorts, and it is difficult to see how the Foxes can stop the white juggernaut in their ranks.
It should still prove to be an enthralling contest between the team with the best home record and the side with the best away record in the Championship this season. Something has got to give as a draw is unlikely to help either side.
Farke will have decisions to make given the injury concerns in his roster. Stuart Dallas, Pascal Struijk, Sam Byram, Karl Darlow, and Patrick Bamford are all unavailable. Struijk is back in training but is some way off from regaining match fitness.
Leeds saw off Plymouth Argyle last time around and will face Chelsea next week in the FA Cup. However, the Championship is the priority, and Farke is likely to name a familiar XI in his trademark 4-2-3-1 system.
Illan Meslier should start in goal, with the quartet of Archie Gray, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Junior Firpo forming the rearguard. Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara should form the double pivot, with Wilfried Gnonto, Georginio Rutter, and Crysencio Summerville forming the attacking midfield.
Joel Piroe rediscovered his goalscoring touch recently and should lead the line in Bamford’s stead. Daniel James will give the home side an option off the bench should more firepower be needed.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara; Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville; Piroe
Leicester City
The Foxes looked unbeatable at one point this season but have looked vulnerable since the dawn of the new year. Last weekend’s shock loss to Middlesbrough saw them cede more ground at the top, one that could drop to a mere six should they fail to avoid defeat at Elland Road.
Enzo Maresca is aware of the challenge that awaits his side and will hope to keep the home crowd as quiet as possible. The possession-based style of football employed by the Foxes could frustrate Leeds, especially if they are unable to win back the ball. Here in lies Leicester’s advantage, something they will be keen to push on the night.
Leeds United came out 1-0 on top in the reverse future, highlighting once again the threat they possess on their day. Given that they are on aa run of eight straight league wins, the onus will be on Leicester to ensure that the home side does not secure confidence from a fast start.
Maresca will be keen to ensure that his side are not overrun in the middle of the pitch. Wilfred Ndidi is the only major absentee, and Maresca will aim to match Leeds by deploying his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Mads Hermansen should start in goal and should be protected by the back four of James Justin, Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, and Ricardo Pereira.
Harry Winks and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall should form the double pivot in central midfield, with Kasey McAteer, Abdul Fatawu and Dennis Praet providing the attacking thrust. Patson Daka should lead the line while Kelechi Iheanacho, Jamie Vardy, Yunus Akgun, and Thomas Cannon will offer further options off the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Praet, McAteer; Daka
Key Stats
- A win on the night will see Leeds United complete the league double over Leicester City for the first time since the 1994/95 season.
- Leicester City last lost to Leeds at Elland Road in the league in 2012. It is their only defeat in the last nine visits to the venue.
- Leeds United are chasing a ninth straight league win, equalling the club record earlier set in 1931 and 2009.
- Leeds United are the team with the best home record in the Championship this season while Leicester City are the side with the best away record in the league.
- A win on the night will see Leeds United become the second side to complete the league double over Leicester City this season.
Player to Watch
Wilfried Gnonto
The Italian international has been in excellent form of late and has been on a hot streak of goalscoring form. He has made a difference consistently for Leeds United in recent weeks and is a shoo-in for the playing XI when fit.
Gnonto has four goals and one assist in his last four Championship games and will hope to aid Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter in causing havoc in the Foxes backline. Should the trio turn up, Piroe should find himself spoilt for service, putting him in a good position to catch the visitors’ defence off-guard.
Prediction
Leeds United 2-1 Leicester City
Both clubs have their eye on a return to the Premier League, and the game is likely to be hard fought. Leicester City will aim to slow down the pace, while Leeds United will be aiming for a quick start.
Whoever comes out on top could very well set themselves up nicely to end the campaign on a high. Leeds United have the momentum and home advantage to boot, handing them the tools to come out on top in this highly-anticipated fixture. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for Daniel Farke and his charges.