Key events
Will Unwin is on point for the Guardian at Elland Road this afternoon. Allow him to set the scene.
double quotation mark The sun is still shining above Elland Road, where Leeds are boosted by the news that Erling Haaland will not feature against his hometown club. He is “not fully fit” after suffering an injury in training two days ago and that is all we know.City have won their past three games as they try to chase down Arsenal at the top of the table. Victory today will put the gap down to two points prior to the Gunners facing Chelsea tomorrow, in what could be a very difficult afternoon for them. Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo will likely play as wide forwards, giving Leeds a very different prospect to what they were planning for. It could be a fascinating battle.
A reminder what happened to these lads this time last week.
Leeds United are going well, just one defeat in their last eight games, so if it ain’t broke, etc. They name the same XI that started the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.
Manchester City’s big news: there’s no Erling Haaland. Rayan Cherki takes his starting spot, the only change from the 2-1 win over Newcastle United last weekend. Haaland picked up a knock in training during the week, though his absence today is reportedly more precautionary than anything, and he’s expected back for the Nottingham Forest game during the week.
The teams
Leeds United: Darlow, Bogle, Justin, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Stach, Ampadu, Grove, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Gnonto, Bornauw, Tanaka, Bijol, Nmecha, Piroe, Longstaff, James, Lucas Perri.
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait Nouri, Rodri, Semenyo, Silva, O’Reilly, Cherki, Marmoush.
Subs: Foden, Khusanov, Savio, Gonzalez, Doku, Ake, Stones, Reijnders, Trafford.
Referee: Peter Bankes
WAS: Paul Howard
Preamble
The title race is well and truly on. Leeds United should be a sight for sore eyes for Manchester City, who have won the last five meetings between the clubs to the cumulative tune of 19-4. But Leeds have been a resilient bunch this season (except for the curious exception of when playing Arsenal, who have beaten them 5-0 and 4-0): they’re currently unbeaten in four, a sequence that includes draws at Chelsea and Aston Villa, and City needed a last-minute Phil Foden winner to see them off at the Etihad last November, a game in which Daniel Farke’s side levelled from two goals down, the half-time changes made that day now seen as a pivotal point in their season.
So this is no gimme. Not least because Leeds are staying up, so may regard this game as a free swing for David against Goliath; City meanwhile are desperate to close the gap on Arsenal and don’t have so much wriggle room to spare. Could be a Saturday night spectacular. Kick-off is at 5.30pm GMT. It, like the title race, is on!
