For the 16th time this season, Leeds United are in Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as Daniel Farke’s side go to London once again, this time to face Brentford.
A third trip to the Capital this season, having suffered two defeats in the previous two games in London, failing to score. Leeds were hammered 5-0 by Arsenal in August, and then suffered a 1-0 loss at Fulham.
Daniel Farke’s job is safe for now, can he get a result against Brentford? 🔮
However, the feel-good factor is back after a win over Chelsea and a late draw against Liverpool. A total of four points in the last two games, which has guided Leeds into 16th place with 15 points from 15.
To maintain that point-a-game average, Leeds need to avoid defeat against Brentford on Sunday. A tall order, given Brentford have the fourth-best home record in the Premier League this season, currently.
Graham Smyth predicts Leeds to get a point at Brentford
The Bees have won 16 points from a possible 21 at the G-Tech under Keith Andrews. But they have lost four of the last six, and Leeds certainly have more momentum as things stand, going into Sunday.
Paul Merson predicted a 3-1 win for Brentford later today, but on the Inside Elland Road podcast, Smyth is hopeful of a different result. He thinks Daniel Farke’s side can hold Brentford to a 1-1 draw today.
“A draw. I’m gonna go 1-1. I’m gonna say it’s an attritional, not one for the neutral. I wonder if we might see a wing-back score a goal, which would be a fine thing indeed. But yeah, I’m going to go for a draw.
“Anything more than that, phenomenal. You know, they can party all the way back up the road, and I’d give them an extra day for their Christmas party if they got a win there,” Smyth said ahead of Sunday.
“Very few teams win there this season, and it would be remarkable, and they would be bouncing into Christmas in that Palace game. So, a win would be phenomenal, but I would take a draw 100%.”
Tell us your favourite Leeds v Brentford memories 🦚🐝
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How many changes is Daniel Farke expected to make?
Leeds will be without three players on Sunday. Sean Longstaff and Dan James remain long-term absentees due to muscle issues. Farke confirmed Lukas Nmecha will be missing against Brentford.
So how many changes could Farke make to his side when Leeds fans reignite their rivalry with Keith Andrews on Sunday? We believe Farke will make one change to the side that drew with Liverpool.
With Nmecha missing, Noah Okafor will surely continue up top if Farke retains the 3-5-2 system that worked so well against Man City and Chelsea. But Ao Tanaka’s form is superb, scoring two in two.
If Farke is to make any changes to the starting line-up he fielded against Liverpool, the obvious one is Tanaka coming in for Ilia Gruev. But Farke may prefer to be more defensively solid at Brentford.
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