Leeds United welcome Leicester City to Elland Road as Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites seek a second consecutive league win.
Depending on results elsewhere, Leeds could climb as high as 14th whereas Leicester can go as high as fifth if Arsenal and Tottenham lose elsewhere and they better Everton’s result should the Toffees beat Spurs at Goodison Park.
Team News
Jamie Shackleton is a doubt for Leeds as he struggles with a knock but will be handed a late fitness test, despite having featured in last weekend’s win at Norwich.
Robin Koch (groin), Luke Ayling (knee) and Patrick Bamford (ankle) remain ruled out.
Leicester could welcome Harvey Barnes and James Maddison back after the midfield duo were rested in Thursday’s draw against Spartak Moscow in the Europa League.
Ricardo Pereira (knock) also is set to be available but Marc Albrighton (knock), James Justin (knee) and Wesley Fofana (leg) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Leeds have lost just two of their last seven Premier League meetings against Leicester (W4, D1, L2).
- Leicester have won just one of their last five Premier League visits to Elland Road (W1, D1, L3).
- Leeds are yet to be awarded a penalty against Leicester following 18 previous Premier League meetings in this fixture.
- Coming into this matchweek, no Premier League goalkeeper has made more saves this season than Leeds’ Illan Meslier who has made 36 saves in 10 appearances.
- Jonny Evans is the only Leicester defender to have hit the woodwork this season, having rattled the goalframe once in four league appearances.
Prediction
Having struggled for consistency this season with various injury issues, Leeds actually looked confident in their win at Norwich last weekend once they settled into the game with clinical finishing, yet this will be a tough test of their unity because I expect them to endure a physical game here.
Leicester meanwhile will be slightly disappointed with their midweek draw against Spartak Moscow but they showed great spirit to fight back after conceding first, especially after failing to clinically take chances in their last league match against Arsenal last weekend despite growing in intensity throughout.
Brendan Rogers’ decision to rest Barnes and Maddison in midweek therefore could be a clever tactic because with them both fresh and Jamie Vardy set to start, I can see them eying a win here which I see them taking if they are clinical and can stop their defensive issues.
Prediction: Leeds 1-2 Leicester
Result: Leeds 1-1 Leicester