Leeds United continue their fight for survival as Jesse Marsch’s Whites host Southampton at Elland Road.
Victory could see Leeds climb to 14th if Brentford fail to win elsewhere, whilst Southampton look to go ninth with a win if Aston Villa fail to beat Wolves.
Team News
Patrick Bamford is ruled out for Leeds after suffering a foot injury in their dramatic comeback victory at Wolves before the international break.
Illan Meslier (thigh), Raphinha (illness), Diego Llorente (back) and Mateusz Klich (concussion) are all set to be available for selection, alongside the returning duo of Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips (both hamstring)
Jamie Shackleton (calf), Tyler Roberts (hamstring), Junior Firpo and Leo Fuhr (both knee) remains absent.
Southampton could have Will Smallbone and Oriol Romeu available for selection, after the pair recovered from Coronavirus and stomach cramp during the international break.
Alex McCarthy (thigh) and Lyanco (hamstring) are both still ruled out, although McCarthy is back in light training but won’t be risked until he is match-fit.
Stat Attack
- Leeds have won just two of their last seven Premier League meetings against Southampton (W2, D2, L3).
- Southampton have claimed just two points from their last five Premier League visits to Elland Road this century (D2, L3).
- Neither team are yet to score a Premier League goal in this fixture from the penalty spot, although Southampton missed the only previous spot kick awarded in 27 previous clashes.
- Rodrigo has scored in each of the last three matches in which Leeds found the net (W2, L1).
- Southampton are looking to avoid a fourth consecutive league defeat for the first time since a six match run between January – February 2021.
Prediction
With a seven-point gap to the relegation zone, Leeds surely have survival in their own hands across the run-in and should enter this match buoyant by their comeback win at Wolves because despite they were in the end more clinical despite wasting chances in the first 65 minutes of the match.
Marsch though should be worried about the club’s injury record which is still limiting their performance potential, whilst defending does continue to be an issue which needs addressing across the run-in ahead of next season.
Southampton meanwhile gave Manchester City a good battle in their FA Cup defeat last time out yet a sloppy foul led to their game unravelling, so I do expect Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints to come here looking to stop their slip in form and rediscover their attacking spark.
With defensive issues in mind for both teams, I feel like there will certainly be goals but both teams have recently been incredibly wasteful up front, so a score draw seems a fair bet unless Leeds can build on their positive fighting spirit saw at Wolves.
Prediction: Leeds 1-1 Southampton
Result: Leeds 1-1 Southampton