Leeds United - v - Crystal Palace ***Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

Leeds pair Rodrigo and Ian Poveda are set to miss the next few weeks because of respective groin and ankle problems.

Defender Gaetano Berardi will return to training on Monday after seven months out with a knee injury.

Crystal Palace top scorer Wilfried Zaha sustained a hamstring injury at Newcastle and has been ruled out.

James McArthur and Joel Ward both face fitness tests over the weekend, but January signing Jean-Philippe Mateta is available and could make his debut.

Leeds are always a good watch but they will have to do better on*their new pitch*than they did against Everton.

I heard it being described afterwards as 'looking like it had been treated with olive oil', which I thought was a great line - but as Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa said, his players were slipping and Everton's weren't.

Leeds don't seem able to defend at the best of times but what might help them get a clean sheet this time is that Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha is out with a hamstring injury.

Palace will play on the break like they usually do but, without Zaha, they just don't carry the same threat.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Crystal Palace have lost on each of their past five trips to Elland Road in all competitions. The Eagles are looking to complete a first league double over Leeds since the 1985-86 season. The home side has won eight of the past 10 meetings in all competitions, with the other two games drawn.

Leeds United

Leeds have lost four of their past six fixtures in all competitions, winning the other two. The Whites are in danger of losing three consecutive home league games for the first time since October 2017. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their six competitive matches so far this calendar year. All three of Leeds' home wins have been against sides below them in the table.There have been 74 goals scored in Leeds' 21 Premier League fixtures - an average of 3.52 per match. Leeds have lost both of their Monday league games this term, with both coming at home. Patrick Bamford has contributed to 16 goals in 21 Premier League appearances for Leeds, scoring 11 and setting up five.Raphinha has contributed to four goals in his last three league games, with two goals and two assists.

Crystal Palace

Palace are looking to win three consecutive league matches for the first time since a four-game sequence last June. They have been beaten just twice in seven league fixtures, winning three times and drawing twice. Victory at Newcastle in midweek ended a four-match winless streak on the road. Palace are winless in their past eight Monday league games, drawing twice and losing on six occasions. The Eagles are looking to make it four wins from four this season against last year's three promoted sides. They have won the previous matches by an aggregate score of 11-1. Palace have lost 16 of the past 18 Premier League matches without Wilfried Zaha, winning the other two.Eberechi Eze has been involved in three goals in six appearances in 2021, with two goals and one assist.

4 - 1.

MOT.

[CalverleyBoy]

I hope some of our players have sussed how to stay on their feet on the new pitch.

[whitestomper45]

I hope some of our players have sussed how to stay on their feet on the new pitch.

Metal studs hopefully

[WTF11]

Metal studs hopefully

Ouch!! I mean, ok if it's just our guys who have them, but not too keen on seeing a dozen or so blunt blades about to run down someones thigh

[CalverleyBoy]

It will be freezing at ER tonight so interesting to see if the pitch behaves differently - anyone know if its been snowing in Leeds

[WTF11]

It will be freezing at ER tonight so interesting to see if the pitch behaves differently - anyone know if its been snowing in Leeds

ER was on the news at lunchtime, as its now been set up as another vaccination hub, TV pictures showed snow all around Billys statue, at least 3 - 4" at that time (13:00hrs GMT).

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Been snowing in Leeds since Saturday night - think it is starting to fall heavily this afternoon - expect gloves to be on display tonight

[ColombianWhite]

Been snowing in Leeds since Saturday night - think it is starting to fall heavily this afternoon - expect gloves to be on display tonight

Leeds United starting XI: Meslier; Ayling, Struijk, Cooper, Alioski; Phillips, Dallas, Klich; Raphinha, Harrison, Bamford.

Leeds United substitutes: Casilla, Cresswell, Davis, Shackleton, Jenkins, Huggins, Costa, Roberts, Gelhardt.

No Pablo - surely gets in ahead of Jenkins Huggins - injury or fall out ?

Come on Leeds
MOT

[asturianblanco]

Andy/Oz, link if you can

[ozleeds]

Andy/Oz, link if you can

http://www.usagoals.video/c/football...stal-palace/1/