Relegation-battling Leeds United host high-flying Crystal Palace in a huge Premier League clash.
Victory would lift Leeds up to 16th for at least 48 hours, whilst Palace could go fourth with a win if Chelsea lose in the lunchtime kick-off.
Team News
Leeds have no fresh injury or suspension concerns following their 1-1 draw at Brentford.
Dan James, Lukas Nmecha (both hamstring) and Sean Longstaff (calf) remain ruled out.
Palace will rotate their starting line-up with manager – Oliver Glasner having confirmed that those who started their 2-2 draw against KuPS in the UEFA Conference League won’t start here.
Dean Henderson, Marc Guehi, Will Hughes and Jean-Philippe Mateta will be amongst several regulars recalled to the starting line-up.
Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad, Daniel Munoz (all knee), Daichi Kamada (hamstring), Ismaila Sarr (international duty), Rio Cardines (adductor) and Caleb Kporha (back) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Leeds meet Palace at Elland Road on Saturday 20 December at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Leeds have claimed seven points in their last six meetings against Palace (W2, D1, L3).
- Palace have won just one of their last seven trips to Leeds in all competitions (W1, L7).
- Ex Palace players, Odsonne Edouard and Eberechi Eze scored in Palace’s last two meetings against Leeds (W2).
- Leeds have won two of their three previous home meetings against London-based opposition this season (W2, L1), despite failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those three matches.
- Palace have kept clean sheets in two of their last three domestic away games (W3).
Prediction
Having wasted numerous chances in their 1-1 draw at Brentford where they got lucky that they punished a switch off in Brentford’s defensive marking of a cross, Leeds now need to be more clinical if they’re to continue their improved form of this month.
Palace meanwhile clearly valued this as more must-win than the KuPS game with several regulars rested so I expect them to come out and play on the front foot, but they need to be more clinical than they were in their league defeat against Manchester City last weekend.
I however do expect this to be a tough battle because both teams do tend to play a wide style but with their single man up top approach, I do think Palace will just have that extra variety to nick this.
Prediction: Leeds 1-2 Crystal Palace
Result: Leeds 4-1 Crystal Palace
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