Premier League – Leeds United – Manchester City on Match-day 35
Leeds brace themselves for the visit of League Leaders Man City, in Saturday’s clash at Elland Road – Kick-off 5:30pm GMT.
Leaders Man City are currently 15 places higher than their opponents Leeds, when the two sides meet, they will sit in first and sixteenth positions respectively.
It’s 34 points so far for Leeds United this season, going into this game
Leeds’s next opponents will smell blood if they begin the next match with all guns blazing. Whilst it’s understandable that they may want to do this, after their recent 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace and previous loss to Watford, The Whites must get a positive result and keep defensively solid.
Also, Jesse Marsch knows that a run of 10 losses in 18 meetings for his Leeds side, is going to be a tough run of form to change. However that is exactly what he must try to deliver. Their position is sixteenth in the League and they have 34 points, that is, 8W, 16L and 10D having won eight matches, drawn 10 meetings, and lost 16 matches.
Leeds have won four games, drawn five matches, and lost seven meetings of their 16 League matches at home this season.
A victory for Leeds United would put them on 37 points.
Leeds’s squad will likely be depleted of four of their key players when they start on Saturday, due to injury or illness.
Manchester City will seek to retain their position at the top of the table, this meeting is no exception
With Man City having secured all three points on their two previous outings, Pep Guardiola’s men will doubtless be looking to retain their run after this fixture.
Also, League leaders Man City keep finding ways to win, having secured 16 victories in their last 20 games is astonishing this season, to sit within the reach of a Champion’s League place. With 80 points (26W – 3L and 5D), they currently sit top of the League having won 26 fixtures, drawn five meetings, and lost three matches.
Playing away from home, Man City have won 12 meetings, drawn three matches, and lost one game.
Manchester City will want to keep the pressure on their rivals as they sit at the top of the table, a win will take them to 83 points and keep their momentum going forward.
A solid defensive team
Defence begins with attack and Man City have defended well as a team, borne out by conceding 21 goals in their previous matches. Every player has contributed to them delivering a solid defensive display this Premier League season. Man City have impressed this season, in terms of goal scoring ability, with 84 (81 from open play and three penalties) so far. Their stand out attacking players have been Gabriel Jesus (6), Kevin De Bruyne (5), and Riyad Mahrez (5).
Man City’s squad has depth, but even so, Pep Guardiola is likely to be missing three of they key players when they start Saturday’s game.
Leeds United v Manchester City – Head-to-Head.
Regarding their historical duels both teams have already played each other 16 times with the record being six victories and five draws for Leeds. Additionally, the two sides have played out draws in three of their last five matches encounters. The last time both teams met in this competition was December 2021 and the score line ended up with a 7-0 win for The Whites.
Performance Report
For Leeds, Jack Harrison scoredsix goals in 33 League fixtures this season, while Gabriel Jesus is a top performing player who has scoredsix goals and provided one assist in 33 League matches this campaign for Man City.
Other players of note for Leeds are Jack Harrison and Rodrigo Moreno with six goals each and for Man City are Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez with five goals and five goals respectively.
