Fresh off an emphatic win against Watford, EFL Championship leaders Leeds United will look to continue their reign when they lock horns against fellow title contenders Sunderland On Monday.
Daniel James led the 4-0 routing against Watford with a stunning double, with Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe also finding the scoresheet to help the Whites maintain their narrow two-point lead at the top.
Daniel Farke would be relieved to see his side recover from the FA Cup setback against Millwall with an emphatic win, but he would want them to fire on all cylinders against the 4th-placed Sunderland.
Sunderland will present a tough challenge as they are also in the hunt for the title this season – only 7 points off the top spot. A few frustrating draws hindered their momentum, but they remain undefeated in their last eight games in the Championship, including the 2-0 win over Luton Town last night.
With Sheffield United and Burnley also nipping at their heels, Leeds are aware they are treading a fine margin at the summit, and any potential slip-up could change the course of the title race. Therefore, the game against Sunderland is of the utmost importance, and the Whites will be hoping for nothing except three points.
Team News
Leeds United’s star striker Patrick Bamford continues his recovery from the hamstring, and barring that, there are no big changes to the squad they had against Watford.
Farke is likely to stick to his strongest XI, given the magnitude of the game against Sunderland.
Predicted Leeds United Line-up vs Sunderland (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
Ilan Meslier is preparing for one of the biggest tests against Sunderland, having extended his cleans-sheet streak to four games.
Defence
Ethan Amapadu and Joe Rodon will resume their centre-back partnership after helping Leeds register a clean sheet against Watford. They will be flanked by Junior Firpo, who had an impressive display against Watford by providing an assist, and Jayden Bogle.
Midfield
Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev should continue as the double-pivot, with their partnership proving to be productive. Brenden Aaronson is expected to retain his place as the No.10
Attack
Leeds’ dynamic attacking trident of Manor Solomon, Daniel James and Joel Piroe is turning out to be one of the most destructive forces in the league. The trio were all over Watford’s defence in their recent drubbing, and they will look to have a similar impact against Sunderland next week.
