Key events
I have to say, I’m not a fan of this drip-feeding of Premier League games throughout a weekend. One Friday night kick-off, one Saturday lunchtime, one at 3pm, one at 5.30pm and now another at 8pm…
And none of the games have been proper blockbusters to justify a slot all to themselves.
Or is it just me? Drop me an email with your thoughts.
Everton have won 3-0. So they leapfrog – possibly just temporarily – Brentford into seventh place, with the cohort of teams below Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa gaining more confidence they can hijack the race for Champions League qualification, given that trio’s faltering form.
A Brentford win in West Yorkshire tonight would put them level on points with Chelsea, just goal difference keeping the Bees out of the top six. What a carrot for Keith Andrews’s side.
Good grief, Chelsea are getting another shellacking. (Both Leeds and Brentford fans will probably be happy to see that). Their recent results make for pretty grim reading. Follow the latter stages at Hill Dickinson Stadium here.
No Gabriel Gudmundsson (he’s suspended) is a blow for Leeds. The left wing-back has been excellent in Farke’s preferred 5-3-2 recently, providing genuine width and a real crossing threat from that flank; James Justin looks set to fill that position tonight.
Brentford have deemed Dango Ouattara only worthy of a place on the bench, while Mikkel Damsgaard is out entirely – he’s injured. The Bees bench looks a little thin, in truth. Joining Damsgaard on the treatment table are Rico Henry, Vitaly Janelt and Aaron Hickey, among others.
Team news
Leeds: Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Justin; Ampadu, Stach, Aaronson; Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Perry, James, Longstaff, Piroe, Okafor, Tanaka, Bornauw, Gnonto, Gruev.
Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Pinnock, Van den Berg; Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Lewis Potter, too bad, Thiago.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Nelson, Ouattara, Donovan, Furo, Bentt, Shield, Stephensen, McManus.
Preamble
These two teams are in contrasting form. Brentford have only lost once game since the start of February, while you have to go back to the 6th of that month for Leeds United’s most recent league win. Daniel Farke’s side have to be a little careful they do not get dragged into the relegation battle – they are playing before their rivals, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham this weekend, so it’s a chance to put a six-point cushion between themselves and the drop zone. Spurs and Forest meet each other tomorrow in an enormous six-pointer.
Leeds have favoured home games under the Elland Road lights more than any other kind of match this season, so Farke will be hopeful of a performance. It was 1-1 when the teams met in west London in December. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was named in the extended 35-man England squad for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan; can he celebrate with a goal tonight?
Join us for all the buildup, with kick-off at 8pm GMT. Looking forward to this one.
