Leeds United will be keen to make a statement as Leicester City will want to put their shock loss to Middlesbrough behind them.
This Friday’s EFL Championship top-of-the-table matchup between leaders Leicester City and second-place Leeds United will take place at Elland Road.
A little more than a month ago, Enzo Maresca’s team led the table by 17 points. But a string of unsatisfactory performances has seen them losing ground—a gap that, should Daniel Farke and company win, might be as little as six points.
Leeds United, who are presently enjoying an eight-game winning streak in the second division, are possibly the most improved team in the Championship. The Elland Road team is now in second place, which could result in them receiving automatic promotion at the conclusion of the current campaign.
A victory on the evening will more than assist the Whites maintain their second-place standings as they are finding their form at the perfect time. Leeds’ victory will only serve to emphasize the fact that Leicester City has recently lost its air of invincibility.
Leeds’s performance at Elland Road is compounding the Foxes’ problems. Given their present play, it is unlikely that the Whites, the only Championship team without a home loss in the league this season, will break that record on Friday night.
Should Leeds make a mistake, Southampton and Ipswich Town are in a good position to seize the opportunity. The Yorkshire giants are unlikely to win the playoffs, therefore they will be anxious to hold onto second place. There are still a few of games left, and Leicester may start to worry if their lead at the top shrinks to just 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
Since the beginning of the year, the Yorkshire team has been playing excellently, and they are currently leading the EFL Championship. Elland Road has become something of a fortress thanks to Daniel Farke, and it is hard to see how the Foxes can halt the white juggernaut within their ranks.
The matchup between the squad with the best home record and the team with the best away record in the Championship this season could nevertheless prove to be an exciting one. A draw is not going to be helpful for either team, so something needs to give.
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 defeated Plymouth Argyle the last time out and will play Chelsea in the FA Cup the following week. But the championship comes first, and Farke will probably start with a lineup that you are familiar with in his signature 4-2-3-1 formation.
The starting lineup should see Illan Meslier in goal, with Archie Gray, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Junior Firpo constituting the back four. The attacking midfield should be composed of Wilfried Gnonto, Georginio Rutter, and Crysencio Summerville, with Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara creating the double pivot.Joel Piroe, who has found his scoring form again, ought to start at the front of the line in Bamford’s place.If the home team needs more firepower, Daniel James will provide a substitute.
Possible Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1): Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville; Piroe; Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara
Leicester City
This season, the Foxes appeared unbeatable at one point, but ever since the new year began, they have appeared fragile. They lost position at the top last weekend in their shocking loss to Middlesbrough; if they lose at Elland Road, that lead may slip to just six points.
Enzo Maresca will try to keep the home crowd as silent as possible, knowing full well the struggle that lies ahead for him. Leeds may become frustrated with the Foxes’ possession-based style of play, particularly if they are unable to recover the ball. Leicester will be eager to capitalize on this edge on game 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.In center midfield, Harry Winks and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ought to be the double pivot, with Dennis Praet, Abdul Fatawu, and Kasey McAteer offering the offensive impetus. The line should be led by Patson Daka, with further possibilities coming off the bench from Jamie Vardy, Thomas Cannon, Yunus Akgun, and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Praet, McAteer; Daka are the probable members of the lineup (4-2-3-1).
Player to Watch
Wilfried Gnonto
Prediction
Leeds United 2-1 Leicester City
The goal of both teams is to return to the Premier League, therefore there will probably be fierce competition. Leeds United wants to get out to a fast start, while Leicester City wants to slow things down.
The winner has a good chance of positioning themselves to close the campaign on a positive note. Leeds United has the advantage of home advantage and momentum, which will give them the best chance to win this eagerly awaited match. Daniel Farke and his team should prevail 2-1 after a valiant effort, according to The Hard Tackle.
