Leeds United vs Aston Villa preview: Team news, lineups, prediction
Leeds United are back in action this weekend to face Aston Villa.
Daniel Farke is under immense pressure at Leeds ahead of some incredibly tough fixtures, with anything other than a win against Aston Villa unlikely to subdue the concerns about his future.
Leeds are still among the favourites for relegation, amplifying the importance of three points
when the Villans travel to Elland Road.
All eyes will be on Farke and the Whites ahead of Sunday’s game, as MOT Leeds News looks
ahead to what could be a decisive fixture in his future.
Preview
Leeds suffered a defeat against Nottingham Forest before the international break, with the
Whites searching for their second win since September.
Farke’s side have picked up 11 points from their 11 games so far this season, keeping at the
one point per game average that is often needed to stay up in the Premier League.
However, with clashes against Liverpool and Chelsea approaching, that could soon change,
especially if they fail to beat Aston Villa.
As for the Villans, they have found their feet after a somewhat ropey start to the campaign, and are on course to secure European football.
They sit sixth in the table after 11 games, with 18 points accumulated.
Form guide (all competitions)
Leeds: LLWLL
Villa: WWLWL
Head-to-head
Leeds are winless in their last six games with Aston Villa, with their last win coming back in
October 2020.
Patrick Bamford, who recently joined Sheffield United, scored a hat-trick on that day, with Pascal Struijk and Jack Harrison the only other two who featured that still play regularly today.
Aston Villa have won four of the last six, with the other two ending in a 0-0 draw as well as a 3-3 draw back in 2022.
If the Whites can secure victory on Sunday, it will be only their second win against the Villans
since 2016.
Team news and predicted lineups
For Farke, it’s likely to be as you were from a selection point of view, with the Whites, so far,
having come out of the international break unscathed.
Willy Gnonto’s whereabouts remain unknown, though it’s expected that Leeds will have a full
selection of players to choose from otherwise.
As for Villa, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings are the two main absentees, with the latter not
expected back until the new year.
Leeds XI – Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Tanaka, Longstaff, Stach, James,
Okafor, Nmecha
Aston Villa – Martinez, Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Rogers,
Buendia, Watkins
Prediction: Leeds 1-1 Aston Villa
Leeds need to beat Aston Villa, or at the very least avoid defeat, given the fact that there is a
high likelihood they don’t pick up another point this year.
However, with the Villans having only lost one of their last eight Premier League fixtures, it’s
hard to see the Whites suddenly finding form.
A draw wouldn’t be the worst result, but it would do nothing to alleviate the pressure that is on Farke.
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