Leeds welcome Leicester to Elland Road in what will be a huge game in the race for the Championship title and automatic promotion.
Date: 23/02/24
Kick-off time: 20:00
Venue: Elland Road
Leicester had looked like they were running away with the Championship as they battle for an immediate return to top flight football. However, recent results have opened the door for those below them to close the gap at the summit. The Foxes still sit first, but their advantage is now at eight points over this weekend’s opponents.
Enzo Maresca’s team have dropped eight points in their last seven games, but Leeds’ excellent form, in which they have won eight in a row, has meant their complacencies have been punished. A victory for the hosts would cut the lead at the top to just five, with 12 games remaining. Three points for Leicester would strengthen their grip on first place, and it’d be difficult to see them relinquish that position from then on. Both Southampton and Ipswich have a game in hand over Leeds, so any dropped points could give those two sides an excellent opportunity to overtake.
Goals should be expected, with both sides amongst the league’s best attacks. Leicester’s 69 goals scored is the best in the division, whilst Leeds’ 61 is not too far behind. They both boast the best defence, but the visitors have only kept a clean sheet twice in eight games. Daniel Farke’s side, in contrast, have not conceded in their last five league fixtures.
If offenses are to be on top, look out for Crysencio Summerville, who has scored 15 goals for Leeds this season. He has four in his last four appearances. For Leicester, Jamie Vardy has still got it, with 10 goals in 23 games, as he proves to still be a nightmare for opposition defences. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been a very important component of the attack, also scoring 10 but providing 12 assists in addition. This tally is the highest in the Championship alongside Ipswich’s Leif Davis.
Since 2020, Leeds and Leicester have faced off seven times, six of which came in the Premier League. Leicester won three, drew two and lost one of their meetings in the top flight. The first came just after Leeds’ promotion, which the Foxes comfortably won 4-1. The one defeat for the visitors was in January 2021 at the King Power Stadium. Harvey Barnes gave them an early lead, but Leeds managed to turn it around late on to win 3-1.
The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in favour of Leeds, who conflicted the second defeat of the season on their opponents. There wasn’t much to split the pair, but Georginio Rutter’s 58th-minute winner proved to be the difference.
