When Aston Villa comes to Elland Road on Sunday, Leeds United will be looking to halt a three-game losing run in the Premier League.
The Whites were impressed by Brentford (5-2) in their most recent match, whereas Steven Gerrard’s Rangers (1-0) defeated Southampton (1-2) before the international break.
Our Match Preview: Leeds United vs Aston Villa
Ivan Toney’s hat-trick helped Thomas Frank’s team beat Leeds 5-2 at Brentford on September 3. Leeds’ Luis Sinisterra and Marc Roca attempts were in vain, and Jesse Marsch’s red card added salt to injury.
Leeds will play Aston Villa for the first time in over a month. Having the state burial of Queen Elizabeth II taking precedence, security concerns led to the delay of Leeds’ game against Manchester United.
Leeds is still in 11th position in the standings, with a game in hand on most of the clubs around them. Leeds had just one point from their previous three Premier League games after earning seven in their first three, but Elland Road has been a stronghold for Marsch’s team thus far.
The Whites have won three of their four home games in all competitions this season, drawing their most recent one against Everton. They are one of five clubs to have surrendered a league-low two goals at home thus far.
Leeds have not won their opening four home games in a Premier League season since 2001-02. Villa will be eager to extend that run after beating Southampton on September 16.
Jacob Ramsey’s 41st-minute goal was all the Lions needed to stop their four-game losing streak in the Premier League.
Gerrard’s team is one point ahead of Crystal Palace, who have a game in hand, and three above the relegation line heading into Sunday’s meeting. A 4-1 victory against Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup is nice, but Villa has lost four straight away Premier League games, allowing 10 goals, and Gerrard was injured during the international break.
Villa has won back-to-back games at Elland Road since Leeds returned to the Premier League in 2020, while Leeds has not beaten the Lions at home since December 2016.
Our Team News: Leeds United vs Aston Villa
Rasmus Kristensen, who missed Leeds’ defeat to Brentford due to injury, will be available for Saturday’s matchup with Villa. Therefore, Cody Drameh will be benched, but Kristensen will still have to beat Luke Ayling for playing time.
For the home team, Stuart Dallas is still out, but Rodrigo is expected to return from a dislocated shoulder, and Junior Firpo, who played for the U-21s in September, should also be available.
Though Pascal Struijk has no plans to give up his newfound left-back position, Diego Llorente may be nervous about losing his starting spot to a returning Liam Cooper in the defensive core.
Villa, who lost Boubacar Kamara to a knee ligament injury after the first half against Southampton, could profit from returning players, whilst Leeds, who are also without Marsch due to a touchline punishment, should not.
Gerrard revealed at the time that he was worried about the Frenchman’s problem, which caused him to withdraw from international duty, and he is now set to spend six weeks rehabilitating.
Despite being called up to replace Theo Hernandez, Kamara’s compatriot Lucas Digne suffered a stress fracture in his ankle and was forced to withdraw from the injury-plagued France team.
Due to the absences of Diego Carlos (out for the season) and Matty Cash (who just indicated that he is nearing recovery from a hamstring injury), Ashley Young will be called upon to fill in at right back shortly.
- Leeds United possible starting lineup: Meslier, Kristensen, Cooper, Koch, Struijk, Adams, Roca; Sinisterra, Aaronson, Harrison, Bamford.
- Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Martinez, Young, Konsa, Mings, Augustinsson, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho.
Our Prediction: Leeds United 2-1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa has found recent success at Elland Road, but Sunday’s match might be a tough one on the road for Gerrard’s squad due to a lack of depth at fullback and a reputation for struggling on the road.
While Marsch watches from afar, we have hope in the Whites to go back to winning ways since Leeds has saved their finest performances for Elland Road and has had a month to heal from the 5-2 hammering at Brentford, which has also helped their wounded crop.
