Leeds and Southampton will meet for the first time in nearly 9 years when they square off in West Yorkshire in this midweek league clash. The two sides last did battle back in October 2012 in the League Cup, a fixture the Whites won 3-0, and also in March that very year in the Championship, with Saints triumphing 1-0 at Elland Road thanks to Rickie Lambert’s 15th minute strike.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men come into this game on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat away against Wolves. Leeds dominated that game in terms of chances, and actually did enough to have a xG of nearly 3, but simply couldn’t convert it into goals and points. The goal they conceded was also a freak one, with Adama Traore’s shot hitting the bar and rebounding off the back of young Illan Meslier for an unlucky own goal. There was little Meslier could do about the OG, and it kind of summed up Leeds’ evening- Wolves simply had all the luck.
Southampton ended their six game losing run with a draw against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea over the weekend. Japanese international Takumi Minamino produced a cool finish to put them ahead, embarrassing both Blues keeper Edouard Mendy and defender Cesar Azpilicueta in the process, but a moment of madness from Danny Ings in his own box allowed Mason Mount to equalise from the spot for the Blues.
If Leeds win this game, they will return to the top half of the table. If 14th placed Saints emerge triumphant, they’ll actually leapfrog Marcelo Bielsa’s men- so tight are things currently in the PL.
Despite being in the bottom half of the table, Leeds have the sixth best attack in the league. They however also let in plenty- only relegation threatened West Bromwich Albion have conceded more than them this season. Southampton’s last nine games on the road have produced a total of 36 goals, which means we could be in for a really entertaining clash at Elland Road. The data folks at Overlyzer reckon that there is a 47% chance of over 1.5 goals for this fixture.
Last six- games- Leeds
Wolves 1-0 Leeds
Arsenal 4-2 Leeds
Leeds 2-0 Palace
Leeds 1-2 Everton
Leicester 1-3 Leeds
Newcastle 1-2 Leeds
Last five league games- Southampton
Southampton 1-1 Chelsea
Southampton 1-2 Wolves
Newcastle 3-2 Southampton
Man Utd 9-0 Southampton
Southampton 0-1 Villa
Southampton 1-3 Arsenal
Who is the man with the whistle?
The referee for this one is Andre Marriner- a name Southampton fans might welcome. Despite their indifferent form this season, Saints have not lost any of the three games in 20/21 that Marriner has been in charge of (1-0 wins over Liverpool and Burnley and a 1-1 draw against Wolves)
Marriner has refereed two Leeds game this season- the first a 1-4 loss against Leicester at home and the other a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
