Leeds United can take one big step towards safety by ending Unai Emery’s four-year Aston Villa record
Leeds United are back in action this weekend to take on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
With their spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup confirmed after their victory against Birmingham, Leeds return to Premier League action this weekend to take on Aston Villa.
The Whites have lost just one of their last five Premier League encounters, with the most recent one ending in a 2-2 draw away to Chelsea, despite Leeds having been 2-0 down with just over 20 minutes to play.
However, Leeds have also won just one of their last nine in the top flight, and if that is to change this weekend, they must do something to Emery that has never been done before throughout his time in charge at Villa Park.
What is Unai Emery’s impressive record at Aston Villa?
Emery has done a fantastic job at Villa this season, and a win for them at the weekend would see them move back within five points of league leaders Arsenal.
However, it would also see them extend their remarkable record against newly-promoted sides under the Spaniard, which spans back to 2022.
Since he took charge of the Midlands outfit, Villa have never lost against a newly-promoted side, despite having faced them on 18 occasions.
The Villans secured a 2-1 victory against Leeds in their last encounter against one of the promoted three, while having already beaten Burnley and drawn with Sunderland earlier in the campaign
If Leeds can end that record, not only could it see them move nine points above the bottom three, but it would also see them pick up only their second away win of the season in the Premier League.
And with West Ham due to play Bournemouth, it’s unlikely that they will pick up anything more than a point.
Stats show how Lukas Nmecha could be key to Leeds victory vs Villa
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been the go-to for goals at Leeds this season, but his recent illness has afforded Lukas Nmecha a chance to lead the line in the Premier League.
And the German has grasped that opportunity with both hands, as demonstrated by his recent form.
Nmecha has registered three goal contributions in his last two Premier League appearances, which has now taken him up to an average of one goal over 115 minutes.
That is the best goal-to-minute ratio of any Leeds United player in the history of the Premier League.
Farke may be tempted to go back to Calvert-Lewin this weekend, but form certainly suggests that it may be the wrong call to make.
For more build-up ahead of Aston Villa vs Leeds United, head over to Football Insider.