Leeds United host Leicester City tonight in what is arguably the biggest game of the Championship season so far.
The division’s top two will go head-to-head under the lights at Elland Road and wherever you look across the pitch there are battles which could prove decisive in the outcome of the match.
Leicester boss Enzo Maresca has already admitted that his side need to be extremely wary of Leeds’ front four in transition. Another key little duel could be how well Ilia Gruev manages to stop Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
But from a defensive point of view for Leeds, there is perhaps one battle that stands out more than others. That is Junior Firpo vs Abdul Fatawu.
Though Dewsbury-Hall leads the way for assists at Leicester, Fatawu is the most creative player in the entire division. He has made 24 big chances so far this season, four more than Georginio Rutter, and eight ahead of Crysencio Summerville.
Firpo must be wary of Fatawu threat
Fatawu was comfortably Leicester’s most threatening player in the return fixture back in November, crashing the crossbar in the first half, before setting up their best chance in stoppage time for Dewsbury-Hall.
Sam Byram was the man tasked with marking him that night and certainly found things tough in the first half, though definitely dealt with him much better after the break.
Firpo is currently enjoying his best run of form in a Leeds shirt but there will always be questions against him defensively, and Fatawu is undoubtedly the toughest test of all.
The 27-year-old has coped well in recent weeks against two other prolific right-wingers in Morgan Whittaker and Jonathan Rowe, and a similar performance will be needed tonight.
If he can nullify the creative threat provided by Fatawu then it will go a long way to helping Leeds come away with a positive result.
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