Leeds United don’t put all their eggs in one basket ahead of their match against Leicester City on Tuesday, even if it’s a ‘decisive game’.
The two teams directly above the Premier League relegation zone meet at Elland Road after opposite results over the weekend.
With Leicester coming from behind to beat Wolves, Leeds lost again to Fulham, leaving them just one point outside the bottom three.
Leicester are still trailing Javi Gracia’s side, meaning their next match will provide a rare three-point opportunity, even if Gracia doesn’t favor one game over the other.
“This is a very important game, a decisive game,” Gracia said. “We give value to the game and we are really focused on it.
“There are six games left and all the remaining games are important. You never know where you can get points.
“Playing at home is the next game and we have to be focused. Leicester came out of a win and it won’t be easy for us.”
Important matches continue #LIELEY pic.twitter.com/JdyUkgH4B7
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 24, 2023
Although Leicester are in 17th place, only ahead of the drop zone on goal difference, they have little momentum but are wary of a response from Leeds.
“They had a little fight,” Dean Smith said of Leeds.
“They have suffered heavy defeats at home, but they will see it as a big one to try and break away from where they are, just like us.
“We cannot give them any reason to cancel. We can’t give away cheap free kicks and cheap goals. We have to keep them quiet for as long as we can.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leeds United – Brenden Aaronsohn
Aaronson finding some form would do much to help the Leeds cause. He endured a miserable fruitless streak, having made 35 goalless shots since his first and only Premier League goal to date. Since then, thirteen Leeds players have scored in the tournament.
Leicester City – Harvey Barnes
Leicester are ready to welcome Barnes back from injury and that means bad news for Leeds. The winger has scored in all five of his Premier League appearances against Leeds and only two players in the competition’s history have scored in their first six appearances against the team – Raheem Sterling and Mohamed Salah, both against Bournemouth.
MATCH FORECAST – LESTER TO VICTORY
Leeds have only won one of their last eight matches against Leicester, and that was in January 2021 away from home.
Leicester have won four of those matches, although this offers a big opportunity to secure a league double over Leeds for the first time since 1997-98.
Goals should be there anyway: Leeds concede 2.6 goals per game under Gracia in the Premier League, a club record, and Leicester are the only side in Europe’s top five leagues to not draw since the World Cup.
WHOLESALE WIN PROBABILITY
Leeds United – 29.1%
Leicester City – 43.9%
Draw – 27.0%