Leeds vs Tottenham - Premier League team news and prediction
Tottenham travel to Leeds for the first time since a 2013 2-1 FA Cup defeat, a repeat of which the home side would gladly take now. Leeds are unbeaten against the Premier League's Big Six at Elland Road this season as they look to end their return to England's top tier in the top half of the table.
Ahead of Saturday's clash, we provide all the need-to-know pre-match information, including what time the game kicks off, where to watch the match, team news and probable XIs.
When is kick off?
Saturday 8th May, 12:30 GMT
Where is the match?
Elland Road, Leeds
What TV channel is it on?
BT Sport 1
Form Guide
A 2-0 defeat to Brighton last week ended Leeds' six-game unbeaten run, winning three, but having earned results against Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United, they'll be confident of kicking off another streak to see out the season. The Whites are yet to lose to any of the Big Six at Elland Road this season, a record they'll hope to keep when they welcome Tottenham to Yorkshire.
Spurs have earned two wins from two league matches since Ryan Mason took over the reins on an interim basis, defeating Southampton and Sheffield United either side of a Carabao Cup loss to Manchester City. This'll be Mason's first league game outside of London, so it remains to be seen how he and Spurs perform in Saturday's lunchtime kick off.
Team News
Marcelo Bielsa has revealed that Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha are being monitored ahead of a potential return to first team action, but Adam Forshaw and Helder Costa are ruled out. Liam Cooper is back following a ban and is expected to return at centre-back alongside Diego Llorente, with Pascal Struijk the man to drop out. Rodrigo should feature from the outset behind Patrick Bamford.
Ben Davies is Tottenham's only main injury concern, with the left-back struggling with a calf issue. Giovani Lo Celso was on the receiving end of a nasty John Fleck stamp against Sheffield United and Ryan Mason may opt against using the Argentine from the start, with Harry Winks in line to deputise if required. Mason also revealed that Tanguy Ndombele and Lucas Moura were both carrying knocks last week, which is why the pair were unused subs against Sheffield United, but both have trained with the first team.
Probable XIs
Leeds (4141) - Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Cooper, Alioski; Koch; Dallas, Rodrigo, Klich, Harrison; Bamford
Tottenham (4231) - Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Winks, Hojbjerg; Bale, Alli, Son, Kane
Key Battle: Patrick Bamford vs Harry Kane
Few had expected Patrick Bamford to have such an impact this season. The Leeds frontman must have felt his career at Elland Road was on the line following the big money arrival of Rodrigo and having scored just 16 goals in their title winning campaign, Marcelo Bielsa was perhaps right to feel he needed to strengthen his attack.
And yet, Bamford has used the additional competition on the frontline to excel, netting 14 times and providing a further seven assists for Bielsa's team. The 27-year-old has underwhelmed at Elland Road, but his return to England's top tier has been noteworthy and the striker deserves immense credit.
Alas while international recognition would be justified, he would find it difficult to force his way up the England striker pecking order, a leaderboard topped by Harry Kane. The Premier League's top scorer is one of three players to register double figures for both goals (21) and assists (13) in England's top tier this term and has earned a better WhoScored rating (7.81) than any other player.
One of Kane's 21 league goals came from the spot in the reverse fixture - a 3-0 win in north London back in January - and he'll aim to add to his tally this term and fire Spurs to a much-needed victory in Yorkshire this weekend.
Score Prediction: Leeds 2-2 Tottenham
