Leeds will look to regain their momentum quickly after their loss last week when they travel to Selhurst Park to face a gritty Crystal Palace side on Saturday. Both Leeds and Crystal Palace have 10 points after seven matches in the Premier League as they sit twelfth and thirteenth respectively, in the points table, with both drawing one and losing three so far.
Though the Eagles have been in the top-tier football for long, Leeds United hold a significant advantage over Crystal Palace in head-to-head. The English sides have faced 62 times so far, with Leeds winning 29 of those matches and Crystal Palace seeing 16 wins.
CRYSTAL PALACE
After starting their Premier League campaign with an ecstatic 3-1 away win at Old Trafford against Manchester United, Crystal Palace have struggled to retain the optimism in their camp. They have won just two of their next six fixtures since then and with their injury table somewhat crowded, the job will only be more difficult for Roy Hodgson. Connor Wickham, Gary Cahill and Wayne Hennessey are sidelined with long-term injuries with James Tomkins and James McCarthy huge doubts for this fixture. While midfielder Luka Milivojevic serves a three-match suspension, Hodgson will be without goalkeeper Jack Butland and mercurial striker Jordan Ayew, both of whom have tested positive for COVID-19.
LEEDS UNITED
Leeds United’s biggest hindrance this season has been their inconsistency. After results like a draw against Manchester City and a big win against Aston Villa, Leeds United slumped to a 4-1 defeat by Leicester City at Elland Road. It was Leeds’ third loss of the season and Marcelo Bielsa’s job has gotten more difficult with the unavailability of Rodrigo Moreno, who has tested positive for COVID-19 as well. Apart from Moreno, Leeds will continue to miss the services of star midfielder Kalvin Phillips, Diego Llorente, Adam Forshaw, and Gaetano Berardi.
PREDICTED XI
Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Vicente Guaita; Nathaniel Clyne, Cheikhou Kouyate, Mamadou Sakho, Patrick van Aanholt; Andros Townsend, Jairo Riedewald, Max Meyer, Eberechi Eze; Michy Batshuayi, Wilfried Zaha
Leeds United (4-4-1-1): Illan Meslier; Luke Ayling, Robin Koch, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas; Helder Costa, Jamie Shackleton Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison; Tyler Roberts; Patrick Bamford
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