Leeds United v Sheffield United preview: Team news, head-to-head, where to watch, lineups
Leeds United are hoping to get back to winning ways when they host Yorkshire neighbours and Championship promotion rivals Sheffield United at Elland Road on Friday (15 October).
The Whites drew their last two matches against Norwich City and Sunderland before the international break, the latter seeing a last-gasp blunder from Illan Meslier cost them two points.
Preview
The Peacocks sit fifth in the Championship table, three points and three places behind Sheffield United who are joint-top of the division with Sunderland after the latter’s 2-2 draw with Leeds last time out.
Daniel Farke’s side had won four of their previous five matches before this, with two victories apiece either side of their only league defeat of the season – 1-0 to Burnley at Elland Road.
However, their unbeaten run since that loss has come at a cost, with midfield stalwarts Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev both ruled out with long-term injuries in consecutive matches.
Despite an EFL-imposed two-point deduction at Bramall Lane to start their first campaign back in the second tier, Sheffield United have started brilliantly.
The Blades are not only level on points with leaders Sunderland (meaning they’d be top without the deduction), Chris Wilder’s side are also unbeaten and have conceded just three goals.
Owing to respective promotions and relegations to and from the Premier League, these two teams have hardly faced one another in recent seasons, since going toe-to-toe for the Championship title in 2018/19.
Facing a side who have been hard to break down so far this season, Farke knows he’ll need all of his attacking options to bring plenty of firepower at Elland Road.
The German will be wary of a lack of adequate preparation time for several players who have featured for their countries late on in the international break, and will hope that this doesn’t hinder their efforts.
Form guide (Championship)
Leeds United: WLWWDD
Sheffield United: WWWDWW
Head-to-head (past five meetings, all comps)
Sheffield United 2-1 Leeds United (10 February, 2018)
Sheffield United 0-1 Leeds United (1 December, 2018)
Leeds United 0-1 Sheffield United (16 March, 2019)
Sheffield United 0-1 Leeds United (27 September, 2020)
Leeds United 2-1 Sheffield United (3 April, 2021)
Team news
The Whites are set to be missing both Ampadu and Gruev from their ranks until 2025 at least, while defender Maximilian Wober will be sidelined for the next few weeks after surgery.
However, every other member of Farke’s squad has a chance of featuring in this match, with Daniel James and Manor Solomon both in line to return after their own respective absences.
With Brenden Aaronson likely to return later from international duty with the US later than his team-mates, he could be directly replaced in the starting XI by a fit-again James.
However, forward Wilfried Gnonto, midfielder Ao Tanaka, and free-scoring left-back Junior Firpo all look set to return unscathed, and Farke will need all three to bring their A-game against Wilder’s side.
The Blades have injury worries of their own which have not subsided over the break, with midfielder Tom Davies and defenders Jack Robinson and Sai Sachdev all expected to miss the clash at Elland Road.
Young midfielder Ollie Arblaster is arguably the key absentee for Wilder having picked up a knock prior to their last match against Luton, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be fit to feature on 18 October.
Predicted lineups
Leeds United: Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Tanaka, Rothwell; James, Gnonto, Ramazani; Mateo Joseph.
Sheffield United: Cooper; Gilchrist, Ahmedhodzic, Souttar, Norrington-Davies; Vinicius Souza, Hamer; Brooks, O’Hare, Rak-Sakyi; Moore.
Where to watch?
The match at Elland Road kicks off at 8pm GMT on 18 October and will be live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports+, as well as the Sky Go app.
Prediction: Leeds United 1-1 Sheffield United
A quick turnaround after the international break certainly won’t work in the Whites’ favour.
Confidence in Leeds’ defence, namely Meslier between the sticks, has never been shakier, and the Blades – who have been solid themselves at the back – will look to exploit this.
However, if the form of some Peacocks over the break, like Spain Under-21s hat-trick scorer Mateo Joseph, means that if Farke’s well-stocked attack clicks, there’s no way the hosts will be kept at bay.
In other Leeds news, one United star showed Farke just what he can do with a superb display on international duty.
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