Premier League: Leeds United vs. Manchester City Preview

Manchester City are looking to dethrone Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table when the champions take on Leeds United at Elland Road on Wednesday

Leeds starlet Crysencio Summerville took advantage of the break just before the country’s World Cup exit, as the Dutchman scored last-minute victories over Liverpool and Bournemouth before Jesse Marsch’s side lost again.

EFL Cup exit at Wolverhampton Wanderers preceded another seven-goal thriller for Leeds, albeit on 12 November. 4-3 against Tottenham Hotspur and were just two places above the relegation zone.

Thus this week’s disappointing results for Leeds before the new year could see them dip below the dotted line, but Marsch’s side can be happy with form in winter testing, boasting 2-1 wins over Elche and Real Sociedad. 2-4 against Monaco from the start.

Despite keeping seven clean sheets in seven of their last eight competitive and uncompetitive matches, they have failed to keep clean sheets in eleven successive games and in just five of their 17 Premier League home games at Elland Road this year. victory.

Leeds have failed to beat the English champions at home since beating Arsenal in 1999, and former Red Bull Salzburg manager Marsch will only remember the Yorkshire-born Man City forward’s unbreakable power.

The Leeds-born man is now looking to tone down the festive mood around Elland Road on his return to West Yorkshire, while a rested Erling Braut Haaland will think little of the sentimental value of meeting the club his father wore with pride . .

The brilliant Scandinavian needed a full 10 minutes to get back on the scoresheet in Man City’s EFL Cup fourth round tie against Liverpool last week, where more goals from Riyad Mahrez and Nathan Ake canceled out strikes from Fabio Carvalho and Mohamed Salah to beat Guardiola. 3:2 victory in the round of 16.

As gratifying as it is to add another EFL Cup to this overcrowded section of the cabinet, Man City have serious work ahead of them when it comes to facing Premier League leaders Arsenal, who are extending their lead over the defending champions. .. would add eight points if they beat West Ham United on Boxing Day.

Some Etihad fans may still have Ivan Toney-related nightmares following Brentford’s late victory at the Etihad just before the World Cup break, but the away side can breathe easy knowing their side have conceded just one goal in the last six. away matches in all competitions.

Leeds impressively prevented Man City from winning one of their games in 2020/21. In the Premier League campaign, however, the champions edged past the Whites by 11 points last season to cruise to a 7-0 victory at the Etihad. at Elland Road just eight months ago.

Leeds doctors have been working overtime to bring back a string of players for Marsch, who is without suspended Tyler Adams and long-term absentees Stuart Dallas and Archie Gray, with Luis Sinisterra also out.

First choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier is recovering from glandular fever and is one of many doubts, alongside Patrick Bamford, Crysencio Summerville, Rodrigo, Liam Cooper, Jack Harrison and Mateusz Klich, although the latter looks close to signing for the MLS team DC United. .

Bamford is considered Leeds Wednesday’s least likely injury, with Norway’s Kristoffer Klaesson making only his second Premier League appearance in goal if Meslier does not wish to return.

While Yorkshire-born Haaland will return home, Calvin Phillips will not, Guardiola openly admitted. The former Leeds midfielder, who has recently recovered from shoulder surgery, is back from World Cup extra weight and is not in the squad now under consideration.

Portugal centre-back Ruben Dias could also miss up to a month after picking up a thigh injury in A Selecao’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to Morocco, while the four-goal hero of Argentina’s Julian Alvarez may not return until after the New Year. holdings in Qatar.

Other World Cup stalwarts like Ederson, Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva are expected to return to Man City’s starting line-up, while Phil Foden and Jack Grealish will battle it out to start on the left before Alvarez returns at his gate. requires regular minutes.

Leeds vs Man City H2H Results (Last 5)

    Leeds: 2 Wins

    Man City: 2 Wins

    Draws: 1

Current Form (Last Five Games)

    Leeds: L  W  W  L  L

    Man City: W  W  W  L  W

Probable Lineups:

Leeds United (4-3-2-1): 

Illan Meslier; Rasmus Kristensen, Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Pascal Struijk; Marc Roca, Adam Forshaw, Sam Greenwood; Brenden Aaronson, Willy Gnonto; Rodrigo

Manchester City (4-3-3): 

Ederson; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo; Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva; Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez