Leeds United meet Leicester City at Elland Road in a blockbuster Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory would see Leeds stay second but a draw or defeat opens the door for Ipswich and Southampton to leapfrog Daniel Farke’s Whites into second, whilst Leicester will stay top regardless of the result.
Team News
Jaidon Anthony is available for Leeds after he missed their win at Plymouth Argyle for personal reasons.
Patrick Bamford (calf) is a doubt but Karl Darlow (thumb), Sam Byram (hamstring), Pascal Struijk (foot) and Stuart Dallas (thigh) remain absent.
Leicester will welcome Kelechi Iheanacho back into contention after his return from international duty for Nigeria.
Wilfried Ndidi (leg) remains sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Leeds entertain Leicester at Elland Road on Friday 23 February at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Leeds have won one of their last five league meetings against Leicester (W1, D2, L2).
- Leicester have lost one of their last seven league visits to Leeds (W4, D2, L1).
- Each of Leeds’ last two home meetings against Leicester have ended in a 1-1 draw, with the Whites scoring first in both clashes.
- Patrick Bamford has scored in three of Leeds’ last four league games at home.
- Patson Daka has scored three goals in Leicester’s last two away matches (W2).
Prediction
Unbeaten in their 11 matches in all competitions since the turn of 2024, Leeds know that this game represents a huge chance to keep promotion in their own hands whilst potentially reigniting the fight for the right to go up as champions if can win here.
Farke’s Whites however will need to show patience and clinical end product much like they did at Plymouth last weekend, especially because Leicester is much tougher opposition.
Enzo Maresca’s Foxes however will certainly be eager to mount a response after they were outclassed tactically by Middlesbrough in a surprise home defeat, so I do expect them to come out fighting and try to atone for their disappointing performance.
Throw in the fact that both teams are top of the table and you just know that this is surely going to be close because Leeds will want to win to keep their destiny in their own hands, whilst Leicester will want a draw at minimum to stay on course for the title.
A draw therefore does feel like it could be the likely outcome.
Prediction: Leeds 1-1 Leicester
Result: Leeds 3-1 Leicester
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