Leeds United will be keen to continue their unbeaten streak when they take on Hull City at Elland Road this weekend.
Leeds United will look to build on their unbeaten start to the Championship season and secure back-to-back victories as they host Yorkshire rivals Hull City at Elland Road on Saturday. The home side notched their first win of the campaign last Friday, while Hull City have drawn each of their three opening league matches.
The Peacocks head into this Yorkshire derby in search of consecutive Championship wins, aiming to establish themselves as early frontrunners in their bid for promotion. After narrowly missing out on promotion last season with a playoff final defeat and undergoing significant squad changes over the summer, Daniel Farke’s side is determined to make a strong push for a return to the Premier League this term.
The season began somewhat slowly for Leeds, with draws in their first two league outings. They came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with newly-promoted Portsmouth and played out a goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion, sandwiched between a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup.
However, Leeds found their rhythm last Friday when they visited Hillsborough and claimed their first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over rivals Sheffield Wednesday. Brenden Aaronson opened the scoring in the 24th minute, and Daniel James doubled the lead just after halftime, securing all three points for Farke’s men.
Buoyed by this confident performance, Leeds United will be eager to continue their momentum and claim another three points in what promises to be a heated Yorkshire derby.
Hull City, on the other hand, are also unbeaten in the league but have yet to secure a victory, drawing all three of their Championship matches so far. The Tigers entered the season under new management, with Tim Walter taking over from Liam Rosenior, but they have yet to hit their stride following a respectable seventh-place finish last season.
Walter’s tenure began with 1-1 draws against Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle, and a 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. Despite coming from behind to earn points in their first two league games, Hull City remains without a win.
Their most recent outing saw them host Millwall at the MKM Stadium, where both sides were searching for their first Championship victory of the season. However, the match ended in a goalless stalemate, leaving Hull still in pursuit of their first three-point haul under Walter.
The Tigers now face a challenging trip to Elland Road, hoping to kickstart their season and secure their first win, which would see them move up to six points. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Leeds United
Following a strong performance and a 2-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is expected to stick with an unchanged starting XI for their match against Hull City on Saturday. Despite the recent arrivals of Manor Solomon and Largie Ramazani to strengthen the attack, Farke is likely to keep faith in the players who secured their first win of the season.
Mateo Joseph is expected to lead the line once again, supported by a dynamic attacking trio of Wilfried Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson, and Daniel James. Aaronson, who has already scored two of Leeds’ four Championship goals this season, will be a key player in the team’s offensive efforts.
In midfield, Ilia Gruev is set to continue his partnership with captain Ethan Ampadu in the engine room, providing stability and control despite competition from Joe Rothwell. The defence is also expected to remain unchanged, with Jayden Bogle at right-back, Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk forming the central defensive pairing, and Junior Firpo at left-back.
Leeds United are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Illan Meslier starting in goal, providing a solid last line of defence. The back four will consist of Jayden Bogle at right-back, Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk as the centre-back duo, and Junior Firpo at left-back, forming a cohesive defensive unit.
In the midfield, Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev will anchor the team, tasked with breaking up opposition play and facilitating transitions from defence to attack. Ahead of them, Daniel James will occupy the right-wing position, Brenden Aaronson will operate as the central attacking midfielder, and Willy Gnonto will take up the left-wing role, all providing creativity and support to the forward line.
Leading the attack will be Mateo Joseph, who will be looking to capitalise on the service from the attacking midfielders and add to Leeds United’s goal tally in this crucial match.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Ampadu, Gruev; James, Aaronson, Gnonto; Joseph
Hull City
Hull City will continue to be without wingers Ryan Longman and Dogukan Sinik for their trip to Elland Road on Saturday due to injuries. Despite these absences, manager Tim Walter is not expected to make significant changes to the starting XI that secured a draw against Millwall last weekend.
Xavier Simons will be pushing for a return to the midfield, especially after Regan Slater started alongside summer signings Oscar Zambrano and Marvin Mehlem in the previous match. However, it is likely that Charlie Hughes and Finley Burns will again have to settle for spots on the bench, with Alfie Jones and Sean McLoughlin expected to retain their places in defence after keeping a clean sheet last time out.
With striker Oscar Estupinan possibly still sidelined along with Longman and Sinik, Chris Bedia could be in line to make his full debut, potentially replacing Mason Burstow upfront as Hull City search for their first win of the season.
Hull City are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Matija Šarkić starting in goal, providing a reliable presence between the posts. The back four will consist of Lewie Coyle at right-back, Alfie Jones and Sean McLoughlin forming the central defensive partnership, and Ryan Giles at left-back, offering defensive stability and width in attack.
In midfield, Marvin Mehlem, Regan Slater, and Oscar Zambrano will operate as a three-man unit, tasked with controlling the tempo of the game, breaking up Leeds’ play, and linking defence with attack. Mehlem and Zambrano will add creativity and forward thrust, while Slater will provide balance and defensive support.
The front three will feature Abdulkadir Omur on the right wing, Chris Bedia likely leading the line as the central striker, and Liam Millar on the left wing. This attacking trio will be responsible for stretching Leeds’ defence and creating scoring opportunities as Hull City looks to secure their first win of the Championship season.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pandur; Coyle, Jones, McLoughlin, Giles; Mehlem, Slater, Zambrano; Omur, Bedia, Millar
Key Stats
- Leeds United have won five of their last seven home league games against Hull City, with their only losses coming in September 2012 (2-3) and December 2018 (0-2).
- Hull City have won just one of their last 10 league games against Leeds United (D3 L6), with their most recent victory at Elland Road coming in 2018 under Nigel Adkins when they won 2-0.
- Leeds United are without a win in their last four league games at Elland Road (D2 L2, excluding playoffs). The last time they had a longer winless run at home in the second tier was in October 2015, with a streak of 12 games.
- Hull City have drawn all three of their Championship games this season. They have only once previously started a league campaign with four consecutive draws, which occurred in the 1923/24 season.
- In just three appearances this season, Brenden Aaronson has already equalled his goal tally from the entire 2023/24 Bundesliga season with Union Berlin, scoring two goals from two shots on target for Leeds United.
Player to Watch
Wilfried Gnonto
Wilfried Gnonto is the player to watch in this upcoming clash between Leeds United and Hull City. The young Italian winger has quickly become a fan favourite at Elland Road, known for his explosive pace, dribbling skills, and ability to create chances out of nothing.
Gnonto’s versatility allows him to play on either wing, and his direct approach often puts defenders on the back foot. His ability to take on opponents one-on-one and deliver precise crosses or cut inside to shoot makes him a constant threat in the final third. Given Leeds United’s need to establish dominance early in the season and their push for promotion, Gnonto’s contributions will be pivotal.
In a match where Leeds will look to build on their recent victory, Gnonto’s flair and creativity could be the difference-maker. His dynamic presence on the wing not only stretches defenses but also creates space for his teammates like Brenden Aaronson and Mateo Joseph to exploit. If he is on form, Gnonto could play a crucial role in securing all three points for Leeds United in this Yorkshire derby.
Prediction
Leeds United 2-0 Hull City
Leeds United, coming off the back of their first victory and playing in front of their home crowd, will be confident of extending their winning run. Hull City’s inability to find the net consistently and their struggle to secure victories may continue to haunt them at Elland Road. With Leeds starting to find their form, they should have the edge in this contest.