Leeds-Leicester is a match valid for the thirty-third day of the Premier League and is played Tuesday at 9 pm: TV, lineups, predictions.
Leeds fifth-last at 29 points, one more than Leicester, paired with Everton but a step above by virtue of better goal difference.
The salvation of these two teams also passes through the delicate direct clash at Elland Road, which neither the Whites nor the Foxes can afford to lose if they want to guarantee their participation in the next Premier League. Leeds may be in front at the moment, but among the various clubs embroiled in the struggle not to relegate, it is the one that is undoubtedly worse off, as evidenced by its three consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Fulham. Especially impressive is the consistently high number of goals conceded by the lineup coached by Spaniard Javi Gracia, which between the Eagles and Reds has conceded as many as 11. The problems in the non-possession phase of the ball also emerged in London against the Cottagers, who got the better of them 2-1 last Saturday, constantly putting Leeds goalkeeper Meslier to the test. Only Bournemouth conceded more goals than the Whites, drilled with an unenviable average of 2 goals per game.
Leicester, positive debut for Smith
The change of technical leadership at Leicester has had the desired effect. The home debut of Dean Smith, former Aston Villa coach, coincided with a very important victory.
Smith
The Foxes won their direct clash with Wolverhampton in a comeback, upending Julen Lopetegui’s men first with an Iheanacho penalty and then with former Atalanta man Castagne (2-1). The victory against Wolves, in addition to allowing Leicester to momentarily move out of the relegation zone, broke a run of four consecutive defeats that had resulted in Brendan Rodgers’ exoneration. Success had been missing for a full 10 rounds, and more precisely since last February 11 with Tottenham. Smith to bring to safety the team that became surprise champions of England in 2016 must now improve at all costs the away performance, where the Foxes have scored only one point in the last five matches played away from their home crowd. In Leeds, Javi Gracia should have Gnonto and Sinisterra coexisting in the three-quarter, while Smith hopes to recover two immovable pawns such as Maddison and Barnes, who are not at their best.
The Prediction
A difficult match to read, like any salvation clash that can be called such. In any case, these are two teams that concede goals with great frequency but at the same time do not have major problems from the point of view of scoring. Reason why we expect a prolific match, with both of them scoring on at least one occasion.
The probable lineups of Leeds-Leicester
- LEEDS (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Wober, Junior Firpo; McKennie, Roca; Sinisterra, Harrison, Gnonto; Bamford.
- LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Iversen; Castagne, Faes, Soyuncu, Kristiansen; Tielemans, Soumaré; Tete, Maddison, Barnes; Iheanacho.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
