Seeking to get their top-two hopes back on track, Leeds United will welcome an out-of-form Sunderland side to Elland Road for an important Championship clash on Tuesday night.
The Whites suffered a first league defeat in 2024 at the hands of Coventry City on Saturday, whilst Sunderland shared the points with Bristol City at the Stadium of Light.
Match preview
© Reuters
Following a 15-game unbeaten streak in the Championship - stretching back to the 1-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion on December 29, Leeds tasted league defeat in 2024 for the first time, coming up short at the Coventry Building Society Arena versus an in-form Sky Blues outfit on Saturday.
Continuing their impressive form in front of goal, Ellis Simms and Haji Wright both breached the net of Illan Meslier to hand Mark Robins's men a shock two-goal lead, and despite Joel Piroe reducing the deficit in the second period, the Whites could not avoid a seventh loss of the league campaign.
Courtesy of Norwich City beating Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town in the East Anglian derby earlier on Saturday, Daniel Farke's side remain just a single point behind second place with five matches left to play this term, although league leaders Leicester City are now two points better off.
Recently nominated for the Championship's Player of the Season award, Crysencio Summerville displayed his loyalty to Leeds during the summer transfer window as Premier League clubs circled around him, with the exciting winger scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists in 38 second-tier appearances to date.
Farke's troops possess a formidable record at their Elland Road base this season, winning 16 and losing none of their 20 Championship home matches in the 2023-24 term, with no other side in the division collecting more points or victories at home compared to the Yorkshire giants.
© Reuters
After a sobering 5-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers on an Easter Monday to forget for Sunderland, the North-East club played out a rather drab goalless draw with fellow mid-table dwellers Bristol City at the Stadium of Light, with Anthony Patterson and Max O'Leary both keeping clean sheets.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession and creating the lion's share of the clear-cut chances, the Black Cats were unable to record their second win since the sacking of former manager Michael Beale in the middle of February, meaning that they have collected just five points in the last eight league contests.
Following a sixth-placed finish last season under the stewardship of Tony Mowbray, Sunderland are fully prepared for an uneventful end to the campaign this time around, with Tuesday's visitors currently occupying 13th place in the Championship standings, 15 points behind sixth-placed Norwich.
In the midst of their struggles in recent weeks, Sunderland have put up a fight in away matches, including a 4-2 loss at promotion-chasing Southampton and a 2-0 success at Cardiff City on Good Friday, when first-half strikes from Adil Aouchiche and Jobe Bellingham sealed Mike Dodds's first win during his second stint as interim manager of the Black Cats.
Sunderland are looking to become the first club to do the double over Leeds this season following a win against Farke's charges at the Stadium of Light in December, when former Birmingham City man Bellingham tapped home a late winner for the North-East outfit in front of a 40,000-strong crowd.
Team News
© Reuters
Leeds were delighted to welcome midfielder Ilia Gruev back to the starting XI on Saturday after his injury lay-off, and the Bulgarian will play once again in the engine room.
Farke has a decision to make on who joins the 23-year-old in the middle of the park, though, with Glen Kamara potentially making way for Archie Gray after the Finland international was hooked at half time in Coventry.
Patrick Bamford failed to find the net versus the Sky Blues and should be replaced by Dutchman Piroe at the focal point of the hosts' attack for this one.
Due to the absence of Ukrainian Nazariy Rusyn, Bellingham will continue to lead the line for Sunderland, aiming to add to his goal tally for the term.
Jack Clarke made his return to the starting XI following a period on the sidelines during the draw with Bristol City, and the winger will play once again at Elland Road.
The Black Cats remain light on defensive options due to the absences of Jenson Seelt, Niall Huggins and Dennis Cirkin.
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Roberts, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gray, Gruev; James, Rutter, Summerville; Piroe
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Ballard, Hjelde; Ekwah, Neil; Roberts, Dack, Clarke; Bellingham
We say: Leeds United 3-1 Sunderland
Although Saturday's defeat at Coventry raised a few concerns, Leeds have the ability to shuffle their pack slightly and come out firing versus Sunderland at Elland Road.
The Black Cats are marooned in mid-table, and a lack of direction under interim management will serve them no good as they look to conquer Farke's side on Tuesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
