Burkina Faso
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Leedsvs.Sheff Utd

sportsmole.co.uk, 16 October 2024, 10:39
Separated by just three points at the top end of the Championship table, Yorkshire rivals Leeds United and Sheffield United will square off for the first time in over three years at Elland Road on Friday.

On their return from the international break, the visitors sit second in England's second tier, only trailing the league leaders on goal difference despite starting with a two-point deduction, while their hosts dropped to fifth spot following back-to-back draws before the break.

Match preview

On their return to action following the second international break of the season, Leeds United will bid to get back to winning ways at Elland Road on Friday and strengthen their position in the Championship's leading pack.

Aiming to go one better and seal a return to the Premier League after their playoff final defeat last term, Daniel Farke's side sit fifth in England's second tier after nine outings, having earned 16 points courtesy of four victories and four draws alongside a single defeat.

That solitary defeat came at home to Burnley in mid-September, and the Whites quickly bounced back with consecutive victories over Cardiff City and Coventry City, accompanied by a pair of clean sheets, before visiting Norwich City and taking a point from a 1-1 draw.

Another tough test followed in a trip to leaders Sunderland before the break, and the Yorkshire outfit looked set to pick up a fifth victory of the season having gone 2-1 up through Joel Piroe and Junior Firpo, only for an Illan Meslier error to force a share of the spoils as Alan Browne's tame long-range effort levelled the scores in injury time.

Now finding themselves three points outside of the Championship's top two following that disappointing result at the beginning of October, Leeds United have the chance to move level with Sunderland and Friday's visitors with a return to winning ways.

That will be no easy task, though, as the visitors make the short trip across Yorkshire aiming to extend their unbeaten start to the league campaign to 10 matches.

Following their relegation from the Premier League last time around, Sheffield United set out to bounce back at the first time of asking under the management of Chris Wilder, and despite beginning with a two-point deduction, they have enjoyed a fine start to the campaign and return in a strong position from the recent break.

Indeed, the Blades now sit as the only unbeaten team across England's second, third and fourth tiers, having amassed 21 points from their nine outings to overcome the deduction and sit second on 19th, with their success having largely come at the back so far having only conceded three goals across those matches.

Wilder's men now return to action on the back of six consecutive clean sheets and back-to-back wins, having rebounded from a goalless stalemate away at Portsmouth with a 1-0 triumph over Swansea City thanks to a Josh Tymon own-goal, before most recently hosting fellow relegated side Luton Town and again taking all three points.

Sheffield United prevailed in a 2-0 triumph at Bramall Lane thanks to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi's brace, and now sitting level with leaders Sunderland and one point above third spot, they will bid to move clear at the top of the table with a third straight victory in Friday's Yorkshire derby.

Leeds United Championship form:

W

L

W

W

D

D

Sheffield United Championship form:

W

W

W

D

W

W

Team News

On their return to action from the international break, Leeds United will remain without key midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev on Friday due to injury issues, meaning summer arrivals Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka will partner up from the start for the first time in the Championship.

Wingers Daniel James and Manor Solomon should be fit to return to contention after their own layoffs, though, and they face stiff competition to return to the starting XI in Farke's 4-2-3-1 setup.

Mateo Joseph will also bid to come back in from the outset, after Joel Piroe led the line and scored in their 2-2 draw with Sunderland before the break with support from Largie Ramazani, Brenden Aaronson and Willy Gnoto.

Chris Wilder should revert to a similar Sheffield United starting XI from their 2-0 victory over Luton Town prior to the international break, although Gustavo Hamer is bound to return on the left flank from the outset having netted four Championship goals so far this season.

He should rejoin Callum O'Hare and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in support of lone front man Kieffer Moore, while Oliver Arblaster returned from an injury setback to partner Vinicius Souza in a full-strength midfield pairing for the Luton Town victory.

Despite facing a quick turnaround, having turned out for Australia against Japan on Tuesday, Harry Souttar should again line up alongside Anel Ahmedhodzic at the heart of a back four in front of stopper Michael Cooper, who has conceded one goal in his seven appearances since arriving from Plymouth Argyle.

Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Tanaka, Rothwell; Gnonto, Aaronson, Ramazani; Piroe

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Gilchrist, Ahmedhodzic, Souttar, Burrows; Arblaster, Souza; Rak-Sakyi, O'Hare, Hamer; Moore

We say: Leeds United 1-1 Sheffield United

Friday's trip arguably present's the sternest test thus far to Sheffield United's unbeaten Championship record this season, and we envisage a tight contest at Elland Road.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool boss Arne Slot is unlikely to feature as many second-string players in the team's remaining Premier League games as he did against Chelsea on Sunday, Reds expert David Lynch has claimed. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In a tie that will go down in folklore as arguably the greatest in Champions League history, Inter Milan have booked their spot in the final in Munich after beating Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in their semi-final showdown. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi reveals he almost "blacked out" after celebrating their eventual winning goal during the remarkable Champions League semi-final success over Barcelona this evening. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Despite leaving the pitch in tears after a gut-punching defeat at San Siro, Barcelona's Raphinha has equalled one of Cristiano Ronaldo's all-time Champions League records this evening. 6 May 2025 talksport.com Tempers flared between Barcelona and Inter Milan as an alleged spitting incident occurred between two rival defenders. 6 May 2025 talksport.com Inter Milan and Barcelona played out the greatest Champions League semi-final in recent memory, with the Italians edging a 13-goal epic. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Davide Frattesi's extra-time strike proved to be the decisive moment as Inter Milan booked their place in the Champions League final after a breathtaking 4-3 win over Barcelona at San Siro in the second leg of their semi-final clash this evening, advancing 7-6 on aggregate. 6 May 2025 talksport.com Raphinha matched Cristiano Ronaldo for the greatest individual Champions League season, but finished on the losing side in an instant semi-final classic. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that it is "very obvious" why Pep Guardiola's side are tempted to sign Morgan Gibbs-White and feels that comparisons made to Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips are "silly". 6 May 2025 talksport.com Bristol Rovers threw it back to Michael Jordan to announce the return of fan favourite Darrell Clarke as their new manager. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Man City and Real Madrid have reportedly suffered a major blow in the pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, who has indicated he wants to join Bayern Munich this summer. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Only two teams have ever reached the Champions League final after losing the first leg of a semi-final at home, and Arsenal now seek to become the third in Wednesday's second leg with Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly prepared to renew their transfer interest in West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur could be without five injured players for Thursday's Europa League semi-final second-leg clash with Bodo/Glimt in Norway. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With one tentative foot in the Europa League final, Tottenham Hotspur travel to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt at Aspmyra Stadion for the second leg of their semi-final tie on Thursday night. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave Liverpool means he has rejected the chance to become a legend of the club and he will no longer be remembered fondly, Reds expert David Lynch has insisted. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lee Kang-in this summer. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to finish the job and secure their place in the Europa League final, Manchester United welcome Athletic Bilbao to Old Trafford for the second leg of their semi-final tie on Thursday night. 6 May 2025 talksport.com Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal have offered Bruno Fernandes a contract to sign for them. 6 May 2025 talksport.com Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs including Wolves, talkSPORT understands. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The "only way" Arsenal will be able to progress to the Champions League final at Paris Saint-Germain's expense will be by scoring first on Wednesday evening, Gunners expert Charles Watts feels. 6 May 2025 talksport.com MK Dons have revealed a new crest ahead of the 2025/26 season. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford captain Christian Norgaard has admitted that teammate Bryan Mbeumo is "likely" to leave the club this summer amid reported interest from a number of Premier League clubs. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luis Enrique has provided the latest update on the availability of star attacker Ousmane Dembele ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second-leg showdown with Arsenal at the Parc des Princes. 6 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal are showing fresh interest in West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus, talkSPORT understands. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly already determined their stance over the potential availability of Marc Cucurella. 6 May 2025 talksport.com Chelsea will open their Club World Cup campaign against a new side after Club Leon's removal was confirmed. 6 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly aiming to complete the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold before the start of the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. 6 May 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's eldest son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, has been called up to the Portugal Under-15 squad for the first time.