Back under the Elland Road lights, it is time for another big night as Pep Guardiola’s six-time Premier-League-winning Manchester City pay a visit to West Yorkshire. The Sky Blues are fighting for another title in this campaign, but Daniel Farke’s Leeds United are three months into a hugely positive run of results, and at home they are among the Premier League’s toughest sides to face.
On the road too, United’s form has improved of late. Last weekend, Leeds earned a draw against third placed Aston Villa in Birmingham, with Anton Stach’s brilliant free kick goal cancelled out late on. Away from home against one of the division’s strongest sides, the Whites maintained their spirit throughout, and the German’s strike will almost certainly be among the Premier League’s goals of the season.
Previously, Leeds advanced to the Fourth Round of the Emirates FA Cup with via a penalty shootout win against Villa’s hometown rivals, Birmingham City, as Lukas Nmecha scored and Lucas Perri came up big in net. And in London, United shocked Stamford Bridge as they rallied from two goals down to grab a draw against Chelsea, with Nmecha and Noah Okafor on the scoresheet.
Last time out at Elland Road, the Whites ran out brilliant 3-1 winners against Nottingham Forest, as Jayden Bogle, Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all hit home. Leeds have lost just two of their last sixteen in all competitions: in heartbreak away to Newcastle United and against table-topping Arsenal.
United are currently 15th in the table after the first 27 matches and now face a City side sitting second and eyeing the Gunners. When the Whites travelled to the Etihad in late November, City struck first—and second—but Leeds showed their mettle as Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin both netted to draw proceedings level. Phil Foden won it for the home side in stoppage time, but the game nevertheless boosted the visitors’ confidence.
Immediately after, Farke’s side beat Chelsea and Crystal Palace and drew with Liverpool and Brentford. The Etihad clash also marked the beginning of a remarkable run for Calvert-Lewin, who would go on to score seven in six straight matches.
But City, too, have found their form down the stretch. The Sky Blues have won seven of their last eight in all competitions, the only slip-up coming in a 2-2 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur. The visitors have recently advanced to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, the final of the League Cup (against Arsenal) and the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Last time out in the Premier League, City defeated Newcastle 2-1, and last time away in the league, Guardiola’s men came from a goal down to win against Liverpool 2-1 thanks to two late, late goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
Over the decades, there have been many memorable, often fiery encounters between the Whites and the Citizens dating back to the clubs’ first meeting in 1924.
United and City have met one another 102 times with Leeds winning 41 and drawing 16 of those matches. Memorably in recent times, Marcelo Bielsa’s side emerged victorious 2-1 at the Etihad in 2021 as Stuart Dallas scored twice, including with a stoppage time winner.
Action from Elland Road gets underway at 5.30pm and you can follow it all across leedsunited.com, as well as on LUTV.
A memorable meeting:
Team News:
Ahead of the match, Daniel Farke confirmed that forward Noah Okafor will miss the game, but Gabriel Gudmundsson has recovered from illness and will be available for selection on Saturday. All of the other players are ready and available.
How to follow:
Monthly audio subscribers around the world can listen to every minute of Friday’s fixture LIVE on LUTV. Bryn Law will be joined by Tony Dorigo on commentary. Pre-match build up begins at 5pm with Michael Bridges and Lucas Radebe in the studio! The match has also been selected for television coverage in the UK by Sky Sports.
The view from inside the camp:
Speaking ahead of the encounter, defender Joe Rodon said of City: “They are a brilliant team with a brilliant manager. At the Etihad, it was a crazy game. It was back and forth, and it gave us that belief and confidence.
“We have been on a great run, and I think the team is just improving game by game. I think overall it has been a good season, but there is a lot more we want to do and we want to keep pushing.”
Read the full interview HERE.
Important supporter information:
Discriminatory language or chanting, including tragedy chanting, is not acceptable, and you could be breaking the law. The club condemns this behaviour and has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination abuse of all kinds.
To report an incident, text LEEDS along with any relevant information including ticket details, your name and description of an incident to 60006. You will then receive an automated response which means that your report has been logged and will then be looked into.
Tough measures and sanctions are in place across all English football leagues to tackle dangerous and illegal behaviours within football grounds, and this involves but is not limited to, discriminatory behaviour, tragedy chanting, fans entering the pitch, the use of pyros and throwing objects. A list of prohibited items can be found HERE.
More matchday information can be found HERE.
What has Daniel Farke said ahead of the match?
League position:
Leeds: 15th
City: 2nd
Top scorer:
Leeds: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (10)
City: Erling Haaland (22)
Officials
Referee: Peter Bankes
Assistant referees: Edward Smart & Blake Antrobus
Fourth official: Oliver Langford
Video Assistant Referee: Paul Howard
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Sian Massey-Ell
